Composition comprising sarsasapogenin

ABSTRACT

The présent invention relates to a composition comprising sarsasapogenin or a plant extract containing it in order to improve the gêneral state of the skin and in particular to improve and/or embellish any part of the body showing a déficit in lipids. More particularly, the invention is directed to a cosmetic method to improve the figure, comprising the step of topically applying to the skin a cosmetic or dermopharmaceutical composition comprising sarsasapogenin to favour the expansion and/or the formation of the subcutaneous adipose tissue, and/or to favour the lipid synthesis in the epidermis.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of cosmetics and personal care products.

BACKGROUND ART

The present invention is directed to the cosmetic and dermopharmaceutical field. The present invention also relates to a composition containing in a dermatologically acceptable carrier sarsasapogenin or a plant extract containing it. Particularly, the invention deals with a composition comprising sarsasapogenin or a plant extract containing it in order to improve the general state of the skin and in particular to improve and/or embellish any part of the body showing a deficit in lipids.

The invention relates also to the use of the sarsasapogenin or a plant extract containing it, as an active ingredient, for the preparation of a composition intended to improve the general state of the skin.

The present invention is also directed to a cosmetic method to improve the general state of the skin and more particularly to improve and/or embellish any part of the body showing a deficit in lipids, consisting in the topical application on the skin of an effective quantity of sarsasapogenin or a plant extract containing it.

The adipose tissue, preponderant in the energy balance of mammals, is made of an extracellular matrix, a dense capillary network and specific cells: the adipocytes. Adipose tissue represents on average 15 to 20% of the body weight which corresponds to 50 billions adipocytes. One of the particularities of this adipose tissue is its important plasticity. Indeed, it is known that the number of adipocytes can increase or decrease during the life according to the environmental conditions. This plasticity is notably function of the variation of the quantity of the cellular lipids (increasing of the adipocytes' size) and of the number of these differentiated cells. These increases of adipocytes' size and number, control of adipose mass increase, are mechanisms intimately closed in vivo.

The mature adipocyte is programmed to build up a body energy reserve, closely controlled by multiple systems, in particular hormonal. This differentiated cell which has lost all its capacity of division can increase its faculty of storage by increasing the quantity of fats stored as triglycerides (lipogenesis mechanism) or conversely mobilize its stored fats by a lipolysis mechanism leading to the liberation of fatty acids and glycerol and/or mono-, diester-glycerol. Usually, there is a balance between lipogenesis and lipolysis in order to ensure stability of fatty mass.

Precursor cells of adipocytes (pre-adipocytes) localized in the adipose tissue can, under the effect of different stimuli, multiply and differentiate themselves into adipocytes. This mechanism is called differentiation or adipocytic conversion. The pre-adipocyte which is in phase of active growth, must escape itself from cellular cycle. This stop of growth is necessary for the pre-adipocyte to enter in the adipocytic conversion process. Between the arrest of growth and the beginning of the differentiation in adipocyte, it occurs nevertheless one and only one additional division, also called “clonal expansion” which therefore increases the pool of pre-adipocytes' competent for the differentiation.

The adipocytic differentiation is mainly characterized by a morphologic modification of precursor cells, a phenotypic change and the appearance of the adipocyte specific markers. At the time of entering into differentiation, the genes most activated are C/EBPβ and δ first of all, then C/EBPα followed by PPARγ. Then, during the final phase of the differentiation, lipogenesis is strongly activated and all the enzymes involved in the tryglycerides formation increase: acetyl-CoA, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GDPH), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-3-DPH), fatty acid synthase (FAS). Then, follow the expression of the insulin specific receptors, adrenergic receptors and lastly specialized proteins such as perilipin and vimentin (formation of lipid droplets), and the secretion of agents favouring the development of the fatty mass (monobutyrin, angiogienic factors, angiotensin II).

In addition, adipose tissue has distinctive angiogenic properties. Adipocytes are capable of producing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important signaling protein involved in angiogenesis (the growth of blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature). Consequently, the stimulation of adipocytes involves the production of VEGF, which allows the growth of blood vessels and therefore to improve microcirculation.

The adipose tissue, for a long time considered as a simple thermal and mechanic insulator, constitutes a layer of fat reserve which completely envelops the body, but whose thickness is variable. By its importance and its heterogeneous distribution, this tissue participates to the general appearance of the figure and the face. It is localised in particular at the cheek, lips, eyelids, limbs, hands and buttock levels. Illness, a medical treatment, a too severe diet or old age can involve a decreasing of this adipose tissue or lipoatrophy, which manifests itself with a thin, empty, lined and tired face.

Adipose tissue is also present at the bosom level. The women breast is made of mammary gland, connective tissue and adipose tissue. The adipose tissue located between the connective tissue and the adipose tissue is variable. It occupies a large part of the breast volume. Consequently, it is its proportion and its quantity which determines the size and the shape breast. During the life cycle (youth, pregnancy, physiologic age, hormonal balance, slimming), the breast undergoes modifications particularly in its volume, which can cause firmness of breast or conversely its slackening.

Synonym of good health, everyone aspires to preserve a well shaped figure, without localized excesses, while maintaining subcutaneous volumes fully filled.

To answer to this expectation, there are different cosmetic compositions or technical surgeries. We can notably quote, to answer this expectation of improvement of the general shape and aesthetic of the women bust, the use of plant extracts with an oestrogen action (FR 2 838 646), compositions comprising hops and ornithine (US 2003044475), but their action is elusive. As to technical surgeries, they are invasive, potentially dangerous, and expensive, can leave scars and are hardly reversible. To correct the deficit of the subcutaneous volume, notably at the level of the face, there is a new technique: the lipofilling, which consists in reinjections of fat taken on the patient to fill up the tissue vacuum. All these methods have certain drawbacks, more or less important. Beyond the price of these operations, the fat, the collagen, or the hyaluronic acid injected can still be identified as nonself and thus cause unwanted inflammatory reaction. In addition, this artificially added biological material will quickly undergo normal enzymatic degradation, which will involve injection cycles on a more and more frequent basis.

Surprisingly, we have discovered that sarsasapogenin was able to produce cosmetical “lipofilling” by mean of a cutaneous filling provided by an increase of the adipocytic mass neoproduced by the organism itself. The principle of this cosmetical “lipofilling” is the stimulation of the lipids synthesis by the cutaneous adipocytes allowing a perfect and painless tolerance for the user. We have noticed that sarsasapogenin possesses lipogenic properties as well as adipogenic properties. Indeed, our research allowed us to discover that sarsasapogenin could not only stimulate the lipogenesis but also activate the adipocytic differentiation.

Thus, the present invention relates to a composition containing in a dermatologically acceptable carrier sarsasapogenin or a plant extract containing it. Advantageously, the composition is intended to improve the general state of the skin and more particularly to improve and/or embellish any part of the body showing a deficit in lipids.

The invention involves more particularly a composition comprising sarsasapogenin or a plant extract containing it, intended to favour the expansion and/or the formation of the subcutaneous adipose tissue, and/or favour the lipid synthesis in the epidermis, and/or stimulate the lipogenesis, and/or adipogenesis and/or the adipocytic differentiation.

The invention also relates to a composition comprising sarsasapogenin or a plant extract containing it, intended to obtain a tensor, and/or tonic, and/or plumping, padding, and/or curving, and/or strengthening effect, and/or favouring the suppleness, and/or the hydration, and/or cutaneous elasticity, and/or improving the microcirculation.

According to a second embodiment, the invention consists in the use of the sarsasapogenin or a plant extract containing it, as an active ingredient of a composition, alone or in association with any active ingredient usually employed in cosmetic or dermopharmaceutical field, intended to improve the general state of the skin. Advantageously, the use of sarsasapogenin or the said composition is intended to improve and/or embellish any part of the body showing a deficit in lipids.

In particular, the invention consists in the use of the sarsasapogenin or a plant extract containing it, as an active ingredient, alone or in association with any active substance usually employed in cosmetic or dermopharmaceutical field for the preparation of a composition intended to favour the expansion and/or the formation of the subcutaneous adipose tissue and/or favour the lipid synthesis in the epidermis, and/or stimulate the lipogenesis, and/or adipogenesis and/or the adipocytic differentiation. Consequently, the use of sarsasapogenin is intended to stimulate the number and/or the renewal of mature adipocytes in the subcutaneous adipose tissue.

The invention relates also to the use of the sarsasapogenin or a plant extract containing it, as an active ingredient, alone or in association with any active substance usually employed in cosmetic or dermopharmaceutical field for the preparation of a composition intended to obtain a tensor, and/or tonic; and/or plumping, padding, and/or curving, and/or strengthening effect, and/or favour the suppleness, and/or the hydration, and/or cutaneous elasticity, and/or improve the microcirculation.

According to a third embodiment, the invention deals with a cosmetic method to improve the general state of the skin, a cosmetic method intended to improve and/or embellish any part of the body showing a deficit in lipid, comprising the topical application on the skin of an effective quantity of sarsasapogenin or a plant extract containing it.

The invention relates also to a cosmetic method which comprises the application on the bust, and/or the low neckline, and/or the buttocks, and/or the face, and/or the lips, and/or the cheeks, and/or the eyelids, and/or the hands, of an effective quantity of sarsasapogenin or a composition containing it to favour the expansion and/or the formation of the subcutaneous adipose tissue and/or to favour the lipid synthesis in the epidermis, and/or to stimulate the lipogenesis, and/or adipogenesis and/or the adipocytic differentiation. In particular this cosmetic method allows to obtain a tensor, and/or tonic, and/or plumping, padding, and/or curving, and/or strengthening effect, and/or favour the suppleness, and/or the hydration, and/or cutaneous elasticity, and/or improve the microcirculation.

In the framework of the present invention, “adipocytic maturation”, “adipocytic conversion”, “adipocytic transformation” or “adipocytic differentiation”, means the formation of mature adipocytes from the adipocytes'precursor cells (such as pre-adipocytes or fibroblasts). We indistinctly use the terms “stimulating effect on the formation of the adipocytes” and “adipogenic effect”. At the same time, “to stimulate” means all positive regulation. We may also use verbs such as “to favour”, “to active”, “to increase”, or “to accelerate”.

According to another embodiment, the invention aims to the use of sarsasapogenin. or a plant extract containing it in a cosmetic or dermopharmaceutical composition, the sarsasapogenin or the said composition being intended to stimulate the lipogenesis, to favour the lipid synthesis in epidermis, and consequently in fine to regulate the proportion of the fat in the adipocytes. “Regulation of the proportion of the fat in the adipocytes” means a modification of the balance between the mechanisms of the lipolysis and lipogenesis in the adipocytes, and more particularly a stimulation of the lipogenesis and/or an inhibition of the lipolysis.

The tensor, and/or tonic, and/or plumping, padding, and/or curving, and/or strengthening effects are characteristics of a functional nature that can be analyzed, measured and quantified using numerous techniques known to cosmetic treatment professionals.

The plumping or redensifying effect of the adipose tissue can be analyzed using interference-fringe topometry (FOITS) or by scan. The gain of firmness and/or elasticity and/or tonicity of the skin may be quantified using the cutometer. Hydration of the skin can be measured using a corneometer, moisturemeter, trough impedance measurement, through conductance; the microcirculation may be analyzed using laser Doppler flowmetry.

The gain of suppleness, the improvement of the general state of the skin, the improvement and/or the embellishing of any part of the body showing a deficit in lipids, and the improvement and the general aesthetic of a figure can be evaluated using a sensory survey on analogical scales, this type of auto-evaluation using a quotation commonly used in the cosmetic field, combined or not with the techniques mentioned above.

According to the invention, the “dermatologically acceptable carrier” means (without being restrictive): an aqueous or hydroalcoolic solution, a water in oil emulsion, an oil in water emulsion, a microemulsion, an aqueous gel, an anhydrous gel, a serum or a vesicle dispersion. “Dermatologically acceptable”, as used herein, means that the compositions or components described are suitable for use in contact with mammalian and more particularly human skin without risk of toxicity, incompatibility, instability, allergic response, and the like.

According to the inventor's knowledge, the beneficial effect on the improvement of the general state of the skin of topical application of sarsasapogenin is not disclosed. The prior art does not provide all the advantages and benefits of the present invention. That is why, the present invention refers to the compositions comprising sarsasapogenin or a plant extract containing it, sarsasapogenin improving the general state of the skin, and in particular improving and/or embellishing any part of the body showing a deficit in lipid.

“To improve the general state of the skin.” means prophylactically or therapeutically regulating the state of the skin. According to the invention, “prophylatically regulating the state of the skin” includes delaying, minimizing and/or preventing the imperfections of the skin which can be detected visually or by touch. According to the invention, “therapeutically regulating the state of the skin” includes improving, decreasing, minimizing, clearing the imperfections of the skin which can be detected visually or by touch. According to the invention, “to improve the general state of the skin” also comprises to improve and/or to embellish any part of the body showing a deficit in lipids.

“Any part of the body showing a deficit in lipids” means any part of the body with a loss of subcutaneous fat that can result for example in sunken cheeks, indentations, hollow eyes, a shapeless body and a cutaneous sagging “To improve and/or to embellish any part of the body showing a deficit in lipids” means to stimulate the installation and the development of adipose tissue in the area of fat deficit. This installation and this development of adipose tissue provide a gradual and significant increase in skin thickness and locally round the cutaneous mantel so as to produce a plumping, padding and curving effect. Moreover, the installation and the development of adipose tissue in the area of fat deficit produce a cutaneous turgescence phenomenon; the skin tightens, improving the appearance of folds and sunken areas so as to obtain a tensor, tonic and strengthening effect and also to favour suppleness and/or cutaneous elasticity.

According to the invention, “the imperfections of the skin which can be detected visually or by touch” include signs of tiredness, intrinsic and extrinsic aggressions, skin aging and signs of deficit in lipids.

The “signs of tiredness and skin aging” include, but are not limited to, all the visible manifestations from the outside and tactilely perceptible, as well as all the macro- or micro-effects caused by skin aging. These signs can be induced by internal or external factors, for example chronological aging and/or environmental aggressions. These signs can result from process which include, without being restrictive, the appearance and development of discontinuity of texture such as wrinkles, deep and unrefined wrinkles, little wrinkle, fissures, bumps and protuberances, sagging of cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues, bags, loss of elasticity, flaccid skin, loss of firmness and loss of skin tone, dermal atrophy, cutaneous anisotropy, variation in the thickness of the epidermis and/or derm, change in complexion, dull complexion, loss of uniformity of the complexion, variation in pigmentation (hypo- and hyper-pigmentation), rough appearance of the skin, decrease in the clarity, erythrosis, hyperkeratoses, UV sunspots, lentigines, disorganization of the cutaneous microcirculation, disorganization of the microcirculation of the skin and ground tissues close to the skin, the emergence of colored and/or dark spots, the appearance of zones of irritation, the emergence of telangiectases, the dry and rough appearance of the skin, the roughness, the increase in desquamation, dilated, variation of the size of the pores, the loss of barrier properties, loss of hydration, loss of barrier function, elasticity and firmness lost, increase of the skin smoothness, ph variation, loss of hair and fragile nails, the loss of waterproofness, the loss of resistance to the deformation, decolorization, keratoses, abnormal differentiation, hyperkeratinization, elastosis, loss of collagen and pigment changes and the other histological changes in the stratum corneum, derm and epidermis.

Certain products and compositions according to the present invention are also useful to improve the appearance and/or skin feeling. The preferred compositions according to the present invention bring about immediately a visual improvement of the skin appearance from the topical application of the composition, with a possible combination with active ingredients known for their immediate action.

Notably, the topical application of sarsasapogenin or a plant extract containing it can prevent the signs of tiredness and endogenous and/or exogenous ageing and the signs of deficit in lipids, and in particular can give back suppleness, hydration and elasticity, improve the aspect of the skin and the sensation of well-being, carry out a cosmetical “lipofilling”, strengthen, tone up, flesh out, give shapely face, hip, thigh, bust, tone up the texture of the skin, give back substance to the skin, find back the full shape of a young face, redensify, to brighten up the glow of the skin, to increase the microcirculation and the radiance, vascularize.

The parts of the body which can have a deficit in lipids, for extrinsic or intrinsic reasons are, without being restrictive: bust, low neckline, buttock, face, lips, cheers, eyelids, hands, generally the figure, and more generally any part of the body which tissue contains adipocytes.

In the framework of the present invention, “sarsasapogenin” means sarsasapogenin or a derivative, its optical isomers, stereoisomers, enantiomers, diastereoisomers, tautomers; in their free forms, their salts with an acid that is physiologically acceptable. Sarsasapogenin can also be in a glycosylated form, bound to one or several sugar residues. Sarsasapogenin is sometimes called parigenin and its isomers comprise smilagenin, isosarsasapogenin, epitigogenin, tigogenin, episarsasapogenin, neotigogenin, epismilagenin. The glycosylated forms are, among other, parillin or timosaponin, xilingsaponin, filiferin. Preferably, sarsasapogenin in the framework of the present invention is (3β, 5β, 25-S)-Spirostan-3-ol. Its CAS number is [126-19-2].

To obtain the effects described in this patent, sarsasapogenin usable in the cosmetic and dermopharmaceutical compositions can be obtained from any source of supply, in particular by chemical hemisynthesis, chemical synthesis, enzymatic synthesis, by one of the many methodologies of biotechnology, by plant extraction or by any other usable means allowing its supply at reasonable costs in the finished product in order to be used industrially. In the case of obtention through vegetable origin, it is obvious that any plant species can be appropriate provided that the extract, obtained from an unspecified part of the plant, contains sarsasapogenin or a derivative.

As non-restricted list of examples, we can quote the extracts of Agave sisalana, Agave americana, Asparagus (all varieties, including, without being exclusive A. officinalis, A. adscende, A. racemosus, Radix Asparagi or <<Tian-Dong>>, A. cochichinensis (lour.) Merr., A. cochichinensis (lour.) Merr. Var. gaudichaudianus, A. taliensis, A. munitus, A. mtyriacanthus, A. meioclados Levl, A. trichoclados, A. filicinus), of Yucca (Yucca spp, Y. filifera, Y. filamentosa, Y. baccata, Y. brevifolia Y. schidigera), of Shatavari, of Smilax (Sarsaparilla, Salsepareille, Sarsaparriha, khao yen, Saparna, jupicanga, smilace, China root, Smilax Aristolochiaefolia, Smilax ornata), of Trigonella foenum graecum, of fenugrec, of Diascorées, of Dioscorea colettii, of Lilium brownii, of Quillaja saponaria, of Solanum paniculatum, of Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium, of Tribulus terrestris, of Nicotianum tabacum, of Radix sarsaparilla, of Anemarrhena asphodeloides (Anemarrhena asphodeloides bunge, zhi mu).

According to a preferred embodiment, sarsasapogenin usable in the framework of the present invention is obtained from an extract of Anemarrhena asphodeloides (Anemarrhena asphodeloides bunge, zhi mu).

The plant extraction can be realized through the usual techniques, for example by phenolic extraction, from any part of the plant such as the seed, the fruit, the root, the tuber, the leaf, the pericarpe and preferably the rhizome. Extraction solvents can be chosen among water, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, glycerin, PEG-6 Caprylic/capric glycerides, polyethylene glycol, methylic and/or ethylic diglycol ethers, cyclic polyols, ethoxylated or propoxylated diglycols, alcohols (methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol), or any mixture of those solvents. In addition, it is possible to make vegetable extracts of the present invention through other methods such as, for example, steeping, simple decoction, lixiviation, extraction under reflux, supercritical extraction, extraction with ultrasounds or micro-waves or finally with countercurrent techniques, without this list being restrictive.

The amount of sarsasapogenin usable for the invention depends of course on the desired effect and must be in a sufficient quantity to stimulate the expansion and/or the formation of the subcutaneous adipose tissue. The composition according to the invention can be intended to a topical application on the skin, the mucous membrane, the integument and the hair. Sarasasapogenin present in the composition can vary on a large range, and will be preferably from about 0.000001% w/w to about 20% w/w, preferably from about 0.00001% w/w to 1% w/w, and more preferably from about 0.0001% to 0.1% by weight of the composition.

All the percentages and the ratios used herein are by weight of the total composition and all the measures are made for 25° C. unless it is otherwise specified.

In order to realize the present invention, it can be desirable to formulate sarsasapogenin and/or a derivative of it in a lipophilic medium, this solubilization phase can be made at hot temperature (60-80° C.). Lipophilic medium means, without being restrictive, oils, waxes (carnauba, ozokerite), shea butter, fatty alcools, fatty acids, and in particular mineral oils (petrolatum, paraffin, isoparaffin oil), vegetable oils (avocado, soya), oils from animals (lanolin), synthetic oils (perhydrosqualene), silicone oils (cyclomethicone) and the fluorinated oils (perfluoropolyethers).

It is possible to integrate in the composition of the present invention, products already known as improving the general state of the skin and/or developing the adipose tissue. This combination may allow reaching more efficiently the desired purpose. Thus, according to a particular embodiment, the composition of the present invention can also contain at least one complementary active chosen among the active ingredients stimulating the lipogenesis and/or adipogenesis, strengthening active ingredients, active ingredients acting on skin's tonicity, active ingredients having curving effects, vasodilatator active ingredients, active ingredients favouring microcirculation, and their mixture. For example, we can quote without being restrictive: hops extracts, kigelia africana, sage, soya, sabal serrulata, damiana, de dong quai, dandelion, cumin, liquorice, cnicus benedictus, red elm, raspberry bush, lupin, fennel, pepper, malt, mourere, Kombucha, clover and alchemille.

I ADDITIVES

According to the invention, the dermatologically acceptable carrier can be an aqueous or hydroalcoolic solution, a water in oil emulsion, an oil in water emulsion, a microemulsion, an aqueous gel, an anhydrous gel, a serum or a vesicle dispersion.

The compositions of the invention may include various other and additional ingredients, which may be active, functional, conventionally used in cosmetic, personal care or topical/transdermal pharmaceutical products or otherwise. Of course, a decision to include an additional ingredient and the choice of specific additional ingredients depends on the specific application and product formulation. Also, the line of demarcation between an “active” ingredient and an “inactive ingredient” is artificial and dependent on the specific application and product type. A substance that is an “active” ingredient in one application or product may be a “functional” ingredient in another, and vice versa.

Thus, the compositions of the invention may include at least one skin care active. As used herein, “skin care actives” are additional ingredients, which provide some benefit to the object of the composition. Such additional ingredients may include one or more substances such as, without limitations, cleaning agents, hair conditioning agents, skin conditioning agents, hair styling agents, antidandruff agents, hair growth promoters, perfumes, sunscreen and/or sunblock compounds, pigments, moisturizers, film formers, hair colors, make-up agents, detergents, pharmaceuticals, thickening agents, emulsifiers, humectants, emollients, antiseptic agents, deodorant actives, dermatologically acceptable carriers and surfactants.

In any embodiment of the present invention, however, the actives useful herein can be categorized by the benefit they provide or by their postulated mode of action. However, it is to be understood that the actives useful herein can in some instances provide more than one benefit or operate via more than one mode of action. Therefore, classifications herein are made for the sake of convenience and are not intended to limit the active to that particular application or applications listed.

In a preferred embodiment, where the composition is to be in contact with human keratinous tissue, the additional ingredients should be suitable for application to keratinous tissue, that is, when incorporated into the composition they are suitable for use in contact with human keratinous tissue (hair, nails, skin, lips) without undue toxicity, incompatibility, instability, allergic response, and the like within the scope of sound medical judgment.

The CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Handbook, Tenth Edition (published by the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, Inc., Washington, D.C.) (2004) describes a wide variety of nonlimiting materials that can be added to the composition herein. Examples of actives which may be added, include, but are not limited to: skin soothing and healing agents, skin anti-aging agents, skin moisturizing agents, anti-wrinkle agents, anti-atrophy agents, skin smoothing agents, antibacterial agents, antifungal agents, pesticides, anti parasitic agents, antimicrobial agents, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-pruriginous agents, external anaesthetic agents, antiviral agents, keratolytic agents, free radicals scavengers, antiseborrheic agents, antidandruff agents, the agents modulating the differentiation, proliferation or pigmentation of the skin and agents accelerating penetration, desquamating agents, depigmenting or propigmenting agents, antiglycation agents, tightening agents, agents stimulating the synthesis of dermal or epidermal macromolecules and/or preventing their degradation; agents stimulating the proliferation of fibroblasts and/or keratinocytes or stimulating the differentiation of keratinocytes; muscle relaxants; antipollution and/or anti-free radical agents; slimming agents, anticellulite agents, agents acting on the microcirculation; agents acting on the energy metabolism of the cells; cleaning agents, hair conditioning agents, hair styling agents, hair growth promoters, sunscreen and/or sunblock compounds, make-up agents, detergents, pharmaceutical drugs, emulsifiers, emollients, antiseptic agents, deodorant actives, dermatologically acceptable carriers, surfactants, abrasives, absorbents, aesthetic components such as fragrances, colorings/colorants, essential oils, skin sensates, cosmetic astringents, anti-acne agents, anti-caking agents, anti foaming agents, antioxidants, binders, biological additives, enzymes, enzymatic inhibitors, enzyme-inducing agents, coenzymes, plant extracts, plant derivatives, plant tissue extracts, plant seed extracts, plant oils, botanicals, botanical extracts, ceramides, peptides, buffering agents, bulking agents, chelating agents, chemical additives, colorants, cosmetic biocides, denaturants, drug astringents, external analgesics, film formers or materials, e.g., polymers, for aiding the film-forming properties and substantivity of the composition, quaternary derivatives, agents increasing the substantivity, opacifying agents, pH adjusters, pH regulator (e.g. triethanolamine), propellants, reducing agents, sequestrants, skin bleaching and lightening agents, skin tanning agents, skin-conditioning agents (e.g., humectants, including miscellaneous and occlusive), skin soothing and/or healing agents and derivatives, skin treating agents, thickeners, lipid thickener (e.g. stearic acid), vitamins and derivatives thereof, peeling agents, moisturizing agents, curative agents, lignans, preservatives (e.g. phoxyethanol and parabens), UV absorbers, a cytotoxic, an anti-neoplastic agent, a fat-soluble active, suspending agents, viscosity modifiers, dyes, non-volatile solvents, diluents, pearlescent aids, foam boosters, a vaccine, a water-soluble sunscreen, antiperspirant, depilatory, perfumed water, fat soluble sunscreens substance intended to improve the state of dry or aged skin, skin restructuring agent (e.g. Siegesbeckia orientalis extract), emollient (e.g. C12-15 alkyl benzoate), excipients, fillers, minerals, anti-mycobacterial agents, anti-allergenic agents, H1 or H2 antihistamines, anti-irritants, immune system boosting agents, immune system suppressing agents, insect repellents, lubricants, staining agents, hypopigmenting agents, preservatives, photostabilizing agents and their mixture.

Said additional ingredient is selected from the group consisting of sugar amines, glucosamine, D-glucosamine, N-acetyl glucosamine, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, mannosamine, N-acetyl mannosamine, galactosamine, N-acetyl galactosamine, vitamin B3 and its derivatives, niacinamide, sodium dehydroacetate, dehydroacetic acid and its salts, phytosterols, salicylic acid compounds, hexamidines, dialkanoyl hydroxyproline compounds, soy extracts and derivatives, equol, isoflavones, flavonoids, phytantriol, farnesol, geraniol, peptides and their derivatives, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, and hexapeptides and their derivatives, lys-thr-thr-lys-ser, palmitoyl-lys-thr-thr-lys-ser, carnosine, N-acyl amino acid compounds, retinoids, retinyl propionate, retinol, retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinal, retinoic acid, water-soluble vitamins, ascorbates, vitamin C, ascorbic acid, ascorbyl glucoside, ascorbyl palmitate, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, vitamins their salts and derivatives, provitamins and their salts and derivatives, ethyl panthenol, vitamin B, vitamin B derivatives, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin K, vitamin K derivatives, pantothenic acid and its derivatives, pantothenyl ethyl ether, panthenol and its derivatives, dexpanthenol, ethyl panthenol, biotin, amino acids and their salts and derivatives, water soluble amino acids, asparagine, alanine, indole, glutamic acid, water insoluble vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin F, vitamin D, mono-, di-, and tri-terpenoids, beta-ionol, cedrol, and their derivatives, water insoluble amino acids, tyrosine, tryptamine, butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole, allantoin, tocopherol nicotinate, tocopherol, tocopherol esters, palmitoyl-gly-his-lys, phytosterol, hydroxy acids, glycolic acid, lactic acid, lactobionic acid, keto acids, pyruvic acid, phytic acid, lysophosphatidic acid, stilbenes, cinnamates, resveratrol, kinetin, zeatin, dimethylaminoethanol, natural peptides, soy peptides, salts of sugar acids, Mn gluconate, Zn gluconate, particulate materials, pigment materials, natural colors, piroctone olamine, 3,4,4′-trichlorocarbanilide, triclocarban, zinc pyrithione, hydroquinone, kojic acid, ascorbic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl glucoside, pyridoxine, aloe vera, terpene alcohols, allantoin, bisabolol, dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, glycerol acid, sorbitol acid, pentaerythritol acid, pyrrolidone acid and its salts, dihydroxyacetone, erythrulose, glyceraldehyde, tartaraldehyde, clove oil, menthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil, eugenol, menthyl lactate, witch hazel distillate, eicosene and vinyl pyrrolidone copolymers, iodopropyl butylcarbamate, a polysaccharide, an essential fatty acid, salicylate, glycyrrhetinic acid, carotenoïdes, ceramides and pseudo-ceramides, a lipid complex, oils in general of natural origin such Shea butter, apricot oil, onagre oil, prunus oil, palm oil, monoi oil, HEPES; procysteine; O-octanoyl-6-D-maltose; the disodium salt of methylglycinediacetic acid, steroids such as diosgenin and derivatives of DHEA; N-ethyloxycarbonyl-4-para-aminophenol, bilberry extracts; phytohormones; extracts of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae; extracts of algae; extracts of soybean, lupin, maize and/or pea; alverine and its salts, in particular alverine citrate, extract of butcher's broom and of horse chestnut, and mixtures thereof, without this list being limiting.

Further skin care and hair care active ingredients that are particularly useful in combination with the polypeptides can be found in SEDERMA commercial literature and on the website www.sederma.fr (herewith incorporated in its entirety).

In any embodiment of the present invention, however, the additional ingredients useful herein can be categorized by the benefit they provide or by their postulated mode of action. However, it is to be understood that the additional ingredients useful herein can in some instances provide more than one benefit or operate via more than one mode of action. Therefore, classifications herein are made for the sake of convenience and are not intended to limit the additional ingredients to that particular application or applications listed.

1. Sugar Amines (Amino Sugars)

The compositions of the present invention can comprise a sugar amine, which is also known as amino sugar. Sugar amine compounds useful in the present invention can include those described in PCT Publication WO 02/076423 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,485. In one embodiment, the composition comprises from about 0.01% to about 15%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 10%, and even more preferably from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of the composition, of sugar amine.

Sugar amines can be synthetic or natural in origin and can be used as pure compounds or mixtures of compounds (e.g., extracts from natural sources or mixtures of synthetic materials). For example, glucosamine is generally found in many shellfish and can also be derived from fungal sources. As used herein, “sugar amine” includes isomers and tautomers of such and its salts (e.g., HCl salt) and is commercially available from Sigma Chemical Co.

Examples of sugar amines that are useful herein include glucosamine, N-acetyl glucosamine, mannosamine, N-acetyl mannosamine, galactosamine, N-acetyl galactosamine, their isomers (e.g., stereoisomers), and their salts (e.g., HCl salt). Preferred for use herein are glucosamine, particularly D-glucosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine, particularly N-acetyl-D-glucosamine.

2. Vitamin B3 Compounds

The compositions of the present invention can include a vitamin B3 compound. Vitamin B3 compounds are particularly useful for regulating skin conditions, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,082. In one embodiment, the composition comprises from about 0.001% to about 50%, more preferably from about 0.01% to about 20%, even more preferably from about 0.05% to about 10%, and still more preferably from about 0.1% to about 7%, even more preferably from about 0.5% to about 5%, by weight of the composition, of the vitamin B3 compound.

As used herein, “vitamin B3 compound” means a compound having the formula:

wherein R is —CONH₂ (i.e., niacinamide), —COOH (i.e., nicotinic acid) or —CH₂OH (i.e., nicotinyl alcohol); derivatives thereof, and salts of any of the foregoing.

Exemplary derivatives of the foregoing vitamin B3 compounds include nicotinic acid esters, including non-vasodilating esters of nicotinic acid (e.g, tocopherol nicotinate, myristyl nicotinate), nicotinyl amino acids, nicotinyl alcohol esters of carboxylic acids, nicotinic acid N-oxide and niacinamide N-oxide.

Suitable esters of nicotinic acid include nicotinic acid esters of C1-C22, preferably C1-C16, more preferably C1-C6 alcohols. Non-vasodilating esters of nicotinic acid include tocopherol nicotinate and inositol hexanicotinate; tocopherol nicotinate is preferred.

Other derivatives of the vitamin B3 compound are derivatives of niacinamide resulting from substitution of one or more hydrogens of the amide group. Specific examples of such derivatives include nicotinuric acid (C8H8N2O3) and nicotinyl hydroxamic acid (C6H6N2O2).

Exemplary nicotinyl alcohol esters include nicotinyl alcohol esters of the carboxylic acids salicylic acid, acetic acid, glycolic acid, palmitic acid and the like. Other non-limiting examples of vitamin B3 compounds useful herein are 2-chloronicotinamide, 6-aminonicotinamide, 6-methylnicotinamide, n-methyl-nicotinamide, n,n-diethylnicotinamide, n-(hydroxymethyl)-nicotinamide, quinolinic acid imide, nicotinanilide, n-benzylnicotinamide, n-ethylnicotinamide, nifenazone, nicotinaldehyde, isonicotinic acid, methyl isonicotinic acid, thionicotinamide, nialamide, 1-(3-pyridylmethyl) urea, 2-mercaptonicotinic acid, nicomol, and niaprazine.

Examples of the above vitamin B3 compounds are well known in the art and are commercially available from a number of sources, e.g., the Sigma Chemical Company; ICN Biomedicals, Inc. and Aldrich Chemical Company.

One or more vitamin B3 compounds may be used herein. Preferred vitamin B3 compounds are niacinamide and tocopherol nicotinate. Niacinamide is more preferred.

When used, salts, derivatives, and salt derivatives of niacinamide are preferably those having substantially the same efficacy as niacinamide.

Salts of the vitamin B3 compound are also useful herein. Nonlimiting examples of salts of the vitamin B3 compound useful herein include organic or inorganic salts, such as inorganic salts with anionic inorganic species (e.g., chloride, bromide, iodide, carbonate, preferably chloride), and organic carboxylic acid salts (including mono-, di- and tri-C1-C18 carboxylic acid salts, e.g., acetate, salicylate, glycolate, lactate, malate, citrate, preferably monocarboxylic acid salts such as acetate). These and other salts of the vitamin B3 compound can be readily prepared by the skilled artisan (<<The Reaction of L-Ascorbic and D-Iosascorbic Acid with Nicotinic Acid and Its Amide”, J. Organic Chemistry, Vol. 14, 22-26 (1949)).

The vitamin B3 compound may be included as the substantially pure material, or as an extract obtained by suitable physical and/or chemical isolation from natural (e.g., plant) sources. The vitamin B3 compound is preferably substantially pure, more preferably essentially pure.

3. Dehydroacetic Acid (DHA)

The composition of this invention can include dehydroacetic acid, having the structure:

or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, derivatives or tautomers thereof. The technical name for dehydroacetic acid is 3-Acetyl-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2,4(3H)-dione and can be commercially purchased from Lonza.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts include alkali metal salts, such as sodium and potassium; alkaline earth metal salts, such as calcium and magnesium; non-toxic heavy metal salts; ammonium salts; and trialkylammonium salts, such astrimethylammonium and triethylammonium. Sodium, potassium, and ammonium salts of dehydroacetic acid are preferred. Highly preferred is sodium dehydroacetate which can be purchased from Tri-K, as Tristat SDHA. Derivatives of dehydroacetic acid include, but are not limited to, any compounds wherein the CH3 groups are individually or in combination replaced by amides, esters, amino groups, alkyls, and alcohol esters. Tautomers of dehydroacetic acid can be described as having the chemical formula C8H8O4 and generally having the structure above.

In one embodiment, the compositions of the present invention can comprise from about 0.001% to about 25% by weight of the composition, preferably from about 0.01% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.05% to about 5%, and even more preferably from about 0.1% to about 1%, of dehydroacefic acid or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, derivatives or tautomers thereof.

4. Phytosterol

The compositions of the present invention can comprise a phytosterol. For example, one or more phytosterols can be selected from the group consisting of β-sitosterol, campesterol, brassicasterol, Δ5-avennasterol, lupenol, α-spinasterol, stigmasterol, their derivatives, analogs, and combinations thereof. More preferably, the phytosterol is selected from the group consisting of β-sitosterol, campesterol, brassicasterol, stigmasterol, their derivatives, and combinations thereof. More preferably, the phytosterol is stigmasterol.

Phytosterols can be synthetic or natural in origin and can be used as essentially pure compounds or mixtures of compounds (e.g., extracts from natural sources). Phytosterols are generally found in the unsaponifiable portion of vegetable oils and fats and are available as free sterols, acetylated derivatives, sterol esters, ethoxylated or glycosidic derivatives. More preferably, the phytosterols are free sterols. As used herein, “phytosterol” includes isomers and tautomers of such and is commercially available from Aldrich Chemical Company, Sigma Chemical Company and Cognis.

In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises from about 0.0001% to about 25%, more preferably from about 0.001% to about 15%, even more preferably from about 0.01% to about 10%, still more preferably from about 0.1% to about 5%, and even more preferably from about 0.2% to about 2% of phytosterol, by weight of the composition.

5. Salicylic Acid Compound

The compositions of the present invention may comprise a salicylic acid compound, its esters, its salts, or combinations thereof. In one embodiment of the compositions of the present invention, the composition preferably comprises from about 0.0001% to about 25%, more preferably from about 0.001% to about 15%, even more preferably from about 0.01% to about 10%, still more preferably from about 0.1% to about 5%, and even more preferably from about 0.2% to about 2%, by weight of the composition, of salicylic acid compound.

6. Hexamidine

The compositions of the present invention can include hexamidine compounds, its salts, and derivatives.

In one embodiment, the composition comprises from about 0.0001% to about 25%, more preferably from about 0.001% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.01% to about 5%, and even more preferably from about 0.02% to about 2.5% of hexamidine by weight of the composition.

As used herein, hexamidine derivatives include any isomers and tautomers of hexamidine compounds including but not limited to organic acids and mineral acids, for example sulfonic acid, carboxylic acid, etc. Preferably, the hexamidine compounds include hexamidine diisethionate, commercially available as Eleastab® HP100 from Laboratoires Serobiologiques.

7. Dialkanoyl Hydroxyproline Compounds

The compositions of the present invention can comprise one or more dialkanoyl hydroxyproline compounds and their salts and derivatives.

In one embodiment, the dialkanoyl hydroxyproline compounds are preferably added to the composition from about 0.01% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 5%, even more preferably from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of the composition

Suitable derivatives include but are not limited to esters, for example fatty esters, including, but not limited to tripalmitoyl hydroxyproline and dipalmityl acetyl hydroxyproline. A particularly useful compound is dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline. As used herein, dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline includes any isomers and tautomers of such and is commercially available under the tradename Sepilift DPHP® from Seppic, Inc. Further discussion of dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline appears in PCT Publication WO 93/23028. Preferably, the dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline is the triethanolamine salt of dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline.

8. Flavonoids

The compositions of the present invention can comprise a flavonoid compound. Flavonoids are broadly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,082. As used herein, “flavonoid” means unsubstituted flavonoid or substituted flavonoid (i.e. mono-substituted flavonoid, or/and di-substituted flavonoid, or/and tri-substituted flavonoid). Examples of flavonoids particularly suitable for use in the present invention are one or more flavones, one or more flavanones, one or more isoflavones, one or more coumarins, one or more chromones, one or more dicoumarols, one or more chromanones, one or more chromanols, isomers (e.g., cis/trans isomers) thereof, and mixtures thereof.

Preferred for use herein are flavones and isoflavones, in particular daidzein (7,4′-dihydroxy isoflavone), genistein (5,7,4′-trihydroxy isoflavone), equol (7,4′-dihydroxy isoflavan), 5,7-dihydroxy-4′-methoxy isoflavone, soy isoflavones (a mixture extracted from soy) and other plant sources of such mixtures (e.g., red clover), and mixtures thereof. Also preferred are favanones such as hesperitin, hesperidin, and mixtures thereof.

Flavonoid compounds useful herein are commercially available from a number of sources, e.g., Indofine Chemical Company, Inc., Steraloids, Inc., and Aldrich Chemical Company, Inc. Suitable flavonoids are commercially available called Sterocare® offered by SEDERMA and described in WO 99/18927.

In one embodiment, the herein described flavonoid compounds may be added from about 0.01% to about 20%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 10%, and even more preferably from about 0.5% to about 5%, by weight of the composition.

9. N-acyl Amino Acid Compound

The topical compositions of the present invention can comprise one or more N-acyl amino acid compounds. The amino acid can be one of any of the amino acids known in the art. The N-acyl amino acid compounds of the present invention can correspond to the formula:

wherein R can be a hydrogen, alkyl (substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain), or a combination of alkyl and aromatic groups.

Preferably, the N-acyl amino acid compound is selected from the group comprising N-acyl Phenylalanine, N-acyl Tyrosine, their isomers, their salts, and derivatives thereof. The amino acid can be the D or L isomer or a mixture thereof

Among the broad class of N-acyl Phenylalanine derivatives, particularly useful is N-undecylenoyl-L-phenylalanine commercially available under the tradename Sepiwhite® from SEPPIC.

In one embodiment, the present invention preferably comprises from about 0.0001% to about 25%, more preferably from about 0.001% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.01% to about 5%, and even more preferably from about 0.02% to about 2.5% of the N-acyl amino acid by weight of the composition.

10. Retinoid

The compositions of this invention can comprise a retinoid, preferably in a safe and effective amount such that the resultant composition is safe and effective for regulating keratinous tissue condition, preferably for regulating visible and/or tactile discontinuities in keratinous tissue (e.g., regulating signs of skin aging). The compositions can comprise from about 0.001% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.005% to about 2%, even more preferably from about 0.01% to about 1%, still more preferably from about 0.01% to about 0.5%, by weight of the composition, of the retinoid. The optimum concentration used in a composition will depend on the specific retinoid selected since their potency can vary considerably.

As used herein, “retinoid” includes all natural and/or synthetic analogs of Vitamin A or retinol-like compounds which possess the biological activity of Vitamin A in the skin as well as the geometric isomers and stereoisomers of these compounds. The retinoid is preferably selected from retinol, retinol esters (e.g., C2-C22 alkyl esters of retinol, including retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinyl propionate), retinal, and/or retinoic acid (including all-trans retinoic acid and/or 13-cis-retinoic acid), or mixtures thereof. More preferably the retinoid is a retinoid other than retinoic acid. These compounds are well known in the art and are commercially available from a number of sources, e.g., Sigma Chemical Company, and Boerhinger Mannheim. Other retinoids which are useful herein are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,120, U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,311, U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,584, U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,356, and Reissue 34,075. Other suitable retinoids can include tocopheryl-retinoate [tocopherol ester of retinoic acid (trans- or cis-), adapalene {6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-methoxyphenyl]-2-naphthoic acid}, and tazarotene (ethyl 6-[2-(4,4-dimethylthiochroman-6-yl)-ethynyl]nicotinate). Preferred retinoids include retinol, retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinyl propionate, retinal and combinations thereof. More preferred is retinyl propionate, used most preferably from about 0.1% to about 0.3%.

The retinoid may be included as the substantially pure material, or as an extract obtained by suitable physical and/or chemical isolation from natural (e.g., plant) sources. The retinoid is preferably substantially pure, more preferably essentially pure.

11. Optional Peptide

The composition of the present invention can comprise an additional peptide. Suitable peptides can include, but are not limited to, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, and hexa-peptides and derivatives thereof. In one embodiment, the composition comprises from about 1×10-7% to about 20%, more preferably from about 1×10-6% to about 10%, even more preferably from about 1×10-5% to about 5%, by weight of additional peptide.

As used herein, “additional peptide” refers to peptides containing ten or fewer amino acids and their derivatives, isomers, and complexes with other species such as metal ions (e.g., copper, zinc, manganese, magnesium, and the like). As used herein, peptide refers to both naturally occurring and synthesized peptides. Also useful herein are naturally occurring and commercially available compositions that contain peptides.

Suitable additional dipeptides for use herein include but are not limited to Carnosine (beta-Ala-His), Tyr-Arg, Val-Trp (WO 0164178), Asn-Phe, Asp-Phe. Suitable additional tripeptides for use herein include, but are not limited to Arg-Lys-Arg (Peptide CK), His-Gly-Gly. Gly-His-Lys, Gly-Gly-His, Gly-His-Gly, Lys-Phe-Lys. Suitable additional tetrapeptides for use herein include but are not limited to, Peptide E, Arg-Ser-Arg-Lys, Gly-Gln-Pro-Arg. Suitable additional pentapeptides include, but are not limited to Lys-Thr-Thr-Lys-Ser. Suitable hexapeptides include but are not limited to Val-Gly-Val-Ala-Pro-Gly and such as those disclosed in Fr 2854897 and Us 2004/0120918.

Other suitable additional peptides for use herein include, but are not limited to lipophilic derivatives of peptides, preferably palmitoyl derivatives, and metal complexes of the aforementioned (e.g., copper complex of the tripeptide His-Gly-Gly). Preferred additional dipeptide derivatives include N-Palmitoyl-beta-Ala-His, N-Acetyl-Tyr-Arg-hexadecylester (CALMOSENSINE™ from SEDERMA, France, WO 9807744, U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,717). Preferred additional tripeptide derivatives include N-Palmitoyl-Gly-Lys-His, (Pal-GKH from SEDERMA, France, WO 0040611), a copper derivative of His-Gly-Gly sold commercially as lamin, from Sigma, lipospondin (N-Elaidoyl-Lys-Phe-Lys) and its analogs of conservative substitution, N-Acetyl-Arg-Lys-Arg-NH2 (Peptide CK+), N-Biot-Gly-His-Lys (N-Biot-GHK from SEDERMA, WO 0058347) and derivatives thereof. Suitable additional tetrapeptide derivatives for use herein include, but are not limited to N-palmitoyl-Gly-Gln-Pro-Arg (from SEDERMA, France), suitable additional pentapeptide derivatives for use herein include, but are not limited to N-Palmitoyl-Lys-Thr-Thr-Lys-Ser (available as MATRIXYL™ from SEDERMA, France, WO 0015188 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,620,419) N-Palmitoyl-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-X with X Met or Leu or mixtures thereof. Suitable additional hexapeptide derivatives for use herein include, but are not limited to N-Palmitoyl-Val-Gly-Val-Ala-Pro-Gly and derivatives thereof.

The preferred compositions commercially available containing a additional tripeptide or a derivative include Biopeptide-CL™ by SEDERMA (WO 0143701), Maxilip™ by SEDERMA (WO 0143701), Biobustyl™ by SEDERMA. The compositions commercially available preferred sources of additional tetrapeptides include RIGIN™ (WO 0043417), EYELISS™ (WO 03068141), MATRIXYL™, and MATRIXYL3000™ which contain between 50 and 500 ppm of palmitoyl-Gly-Gln-Pro-Arg, and carrier, proposed by SEDERMA, France (Us 2004/0132667).

12. Ascorbates and Other Vitamins

The compositions of the present invention may comprise one or more vitamins, such as ascorbates (e.g., vitamin C, vitamin C derivatives, ascorbic acid, ascorbyl glucoside, ascorbyl palmitate, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate). Such vitamins can include, but are not limited to, vitamin B, vitamin B derivatives, vitamin B1 to vitamin B12 and theirs derivatives, vitamin K, vitamin K derivatives, vitamin H vitamin D, vitamin D derivatives, vitamin E, vitamin E derivatives, and provitamins thereof, such as panthenol and mixtures thereof. The vitamin compounds may be included as the substantially pure material, or as an extract obtained by suitable physical and/or chemical isolation from natural (e.g., plant) sources. In one embodiment, when vitamin compounds are present in the compositions of the instant invention, the compositions comprise from about 0.0001% to about 50%, more preferably from about 0.001% to about 10%, still more preferably from about 0.01% to about 8%, and still more preferably from about 0.1% to about 5%, by weight of the composition, of the vitamin compound.

13. Particulate Material

The compositions of the present invention can comprise one or more particulate materials. Non limiting examples of particulate materials useful in the present invention include colored and uncolored pigments, interference pigments, inorganic powders, organic powders, composite powders, optical brightener particles, and combinations thereof. These particulates can, for instance, be platelet shaped, spherical, elongated or needle-shaped, or irregularly shaped, surface coated or uncoated, porous or non-porous, charged or uncharged, and can be added to the current compositions as a powder or as a pre-dispersion. In one embodiment, particulate materials are present in the composition in levels of from about 0.01% to about 20%, more preferably from about 0.05% to about 10%, still more preferably from about 0.1% to about 5%, by weight of the composition. There are no specific limitations as to the pigment, colorant or filler powders used in the composition.

Particulate materials useful herein can include, but are not limited to, bismuth oxychloride, sericite, silica, mica, mica treated with barium sulfate or other materials, zeolite, kaolin, silica, boron nitride, lauroyl lysine, nylon, polyethylene, talc, styrene, polypropylene, polystyrene, ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer, aluminum oxide, silicone resin, barium sulfate, calcium carbonate, cellulose acetate, PTFE, polymethyl methacrylate, starch, modified starches such as aluminum starch octenyl succinate, silk, glass, and mixtures thereof. Preferred organic powders/fillers include, but are not limited, to polymeric particles chosen from the methylsilsesquioxane resin microspheres such as, for example, those sold by Toshiba silicone under the name Tospearl 145A, microspheres of polymethylmethacrylates such as those sold by Seppic under the name Micropearl M 100, the spherical particles of crosslinked polydimethylsiloxanes, especially such as those sold by Dow Corning Toray Silicone under the name Trefil E 506C or Trefil E 505C, spherical particles of polyamide and more specifically Nylon 12, especially such as those sold by Atochem under the name Orgasol 2002D Nat C05, polystyrene microspheres such as for example those sold by Dyno Particles under the name Dynospheres, ethylene acrylate copolymer sold by Kobo under the name FloBead EA209, PTFE, polypropylene, aluminium starch octenylsuccinate such as those sold by National Starch under the name Dry Flo, microspheres of polyethylene such as those sold by Equistar under the name of Microthene FN510-00, silicone resin, polymethylsilsesquioxane silicone polymer, platelet shaped powder made from L-lauroyl lysine, and mixtures thereof.

Also useful herein are interference pigments. The most common examples of interference pigments are micas layered with about 50-300 nm films of TiO2, Fe2O3, silica, tin oxide, and/or Cr2 O3. Useful interference pigments are available commercially from a wide variety of suppliers, for example, Rona (Timiron™ and Dichrona™), Presperse (Flonac™), Englehard (Duochrome™), Kobo (SK-45-R and SK-45-G), BASF (Sicopearls) and Eckart (e.g. Prestige Silk Red).

Other pigments useful in the present invention can provide color primarily through selective absorption of specific wavelengths of visible light, and include inorganic pigments, organic pigments and combinations thereof. Examples of such useful inorganic pigments include iron oxides, ferric ammonium ferrocyanide, manganese violet, ultramarine blue, and Chrome oxide. Organic pigments can include natural colorants and synthetic monomeric and polymeric colorants. An example is phthalocyanine blue and green pigment. Also useful are lakes, primary FD&C or D&C lakes and blends thereof. Also useful are encapsulated soluble or insoluble dyes and other colorants. Inorganic white or uncolored pigments useful in the present invention, for example TiO2, ZnO, or ZrO2, are commercially available from a number of sources. One example of a suitable particulate material contains the material available from U.S. Cosmetics (TRONOX TiO2 series, SAT-T CR837, a rutile TiO2), an other example is OPTISOL, proposed by Oxonica.

The pigments/powders of the current invention can be surface treated to provide added stability of color and/or for ease of formulation. Non-limiting examples of suitable coating materials include silicones, lecithin, amino acids, metal soaps, polyethylene and collagen. These surface treatments may be hydrophobic or hydrophilic, with hydrophobic treatments being preferred.

14. Sunscreen Actives

The compositions of the subject invention may optionally contain a sunscreen active. As used herein, “sunscreen active” includes both sunscreen agents and physical sunblocks. Suitable sunscreen actives may be organic or inorganic.

A wide variety of conventional organic or inorganic sunscreen actives are suitable for use herein. In one embodiment, the composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 20%, more typically from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the composition, of the sun screen active. Exact amounts will vary depending upon the sunscreen chosen and the desired Sun Protection Factor (SPF).

As examples of organic screening agents which are active in UV-A and/or UV-B, there may be mentioned in particular those designated below by their CTFA name:

-   -   para-aminobenzoic acid derivatives: PABA, Ethyl PABA, Ethyl         Dihydroxypropyl PABA, Ethylhexyl Dimethyl PABA sold in         particular under the name “ESCALOL 507” by ISP, Glyceryl PABA,         PEG-25. PABA sold under the name “UVINUL P25” by BASF,     -   salicyclic derivatives: Homosalate sold under the name “EUSOLEX         HMS” by RONA/EM INDUSTRIES, Ethylhexyl Salicylate sold under the         name “NEO HELIOPAN OS” by HAARMANN and REIMER, Dipropyleneglycol         Salicylate sold under the name “DIPSAL” by SCHER, TEA         Salicylate, sold under the name “NEO HELIOPAN TS” by HAARMANN         and REIMER,     -   dibenzoylmethane derivatives: Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane sold         in particular under the trademark “PARSOL 1789” by HOFFMANN LA         ROCHE, Isopropyl Dibenzolylmethane,     -   cinnamic derivatives: Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate sold in         particular under the trademark “PARSOL MCX” by HOFFMANN LA         ROCHE, Isopropyl Methoxy Cinnamate, Isoamyl Methoxy Cinnamate         sold under the trademark “NEO HELIOPAN E 1000” by HAARMANN and         REIMER, Cinoxate, DEA Methoxycinnamate, Diisopropyl         Methylcinnamate, Glyceryl Ethylhexanoate Dimethoxycinnamate,     -   β β′-diphenylacrylate derivatives: Octocrylene sold in         particular under the trademark “UVINUL N539” by BASF,         Etocrylene, sold in particular under the trademark “UVINUL N35”         by BASF,     -   benzophenone derivatives: Benzophenone-1 sold under the         trademark “UVINUL 400” by BASF, Benzophenone-2 sold under the         trademark “UVINUL D50” by BASF, Benzophenone-3 or Oxybenzone,         sold under the trademark “UVINUL M40” by BASF, Benzophenone-4         sold under the trademark “UVINUL MS40” by BASF, Benzophenone-5,         Benzophenone-6 sold under the trademark “HELISORB 11” by         NORQUAY, Benzophenone-8 sold under the trademark “SPECTRA-SORB         UV-24” by AMERICAN CYANAMID, Benzophenone-9 sold under the         trademark “UVINUL DS-49” by BASF, Benzophenone-12,     -   benzylidene camphor derivatives: 3-Benzylidene Camphor,         4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor sold under the name “EUSOLEX 6300”         by MERCK, Benzylidene Camphor Sulphonic Acid, Camphor         Benzalkonium Methosulphate, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor         Sulphonic Acid, Polyacrylamidomethyl Benzylidene Camphor,     -   phenylbenzimidazole derivatives: Phenylbenzimidazole Sulphonic         Acid sold in particular under the trademark “EUSOLEX 232” by         MERCK, Benzimidazilate sold under the trademark “NEO HELIOPAN         AP” by HAARMANN and REIMER,     -   triazine derivatives: Anisotriazine sold under the trademark         “TINOSORB S” by CIBA GEIGY, Ethylhexyl triazones sold in         particular under the trademark “UVNUL T150” by BASF,         Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone sold under the trademark “UVASORB         HEB” by SIGMA 3V,     -   phenylbenzotriazole derivatives: Drometrizole Trisiloxane sold         under the name “SILATRIZOLE” by RHODIA CHIMIE,     -   anthranilic derivatives: Menthyl anthranilate sold under the         trademark “NEO HELIOPAN MA” by HAARMANN and REIMER,     -   imidazoline derivatives: Ethylhexyl Dimethoxybenzylidene         Dioxoimidazoline Propionate,     -   benzalmalonate derivatives: Polyorganosiloxane with         benzalmalonate functional groups sold under the trademark         “PARSOL SLX” by HOFFMANN LA ROCHE, and mixtures thereof.     -   others: dihydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (umbelliferone,         methylumbelliferone, methylaceto-umbelliferone);         trihydroxy-cinnamic acid derivatives (esculetin,         methylesculetin, daphnetin, and the glucosides, esculin and         daphnin); hydrocarbons (diphenylbutadiene, stilbene);         dibenzalacetone and benzalacetophenone; naphtholsulfonates         (sodium salts of 2-naphthol-3,6-disulfonic and of         2-naphthol-6,8-disulfonic acids); di-hydroxynaphthoic acid and         its salts; o- and p-hydroxybiphenyldisulfonates; coumarin         derivatives (7-hydroxy, 7-methyl, 3-phenyl); diazoles         (2-acetyl-3-bromoindazole, phenyl benzoxazole, methyl         naphthoxazole, various aryl benzothiazoles); quinine salts         (bisulfate, sulfate, chloride, oleate, and tannate); quinoline         derivatives (8-hydroxyquinoline salts, 2-phenylquinoline); uric         and violuric acids; tannic acid and its derivatives (e.g.,         hexaethylether); (butyl carbotol) (6-propyl piperonyl)ether;         hydroquinone;

The organic UV-screening agents which are more particularly preferred are chosen from the following compounds: Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Octocrylene, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulphonic Acid, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulphonic, Benzophenone-3, Benzophenone-4, Benzophenone-5, 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor, Benzimidazilate, Anisotriazine, Ethylhexyl triazone, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Methylene bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, and mixtures thereof.

Also preferred are the compositions described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,645 and in particular, sunscreen agents sold under the trademark INCROQUAT-UV-283 manufactured by Croda, Inc.

The inorganic screening agents which may be used in the composition according to the invention are in particular nanopigments (mean size of the primary particles: generally between 5 nm and 100 nm, preferably between 10 nm and 50 nm) of coated or uncoated metal oxides such as for example nanopigments of titanium oxide (amorphous or crystallized in the form of rutile and/or anatase), iron, zinc, zirconium or cerium oxides and mixtures thereof. Coating agents are moreover alumina and/or aluminum stearate. Such nanopigments of metal oxides, coated or uncoated, are in particular described in EP-A-0-518,772 and EP-A-0-518,773. One preferred TiO2/ZnO2 sunscreen agent is OPTISOL, proposed by Oxonica

When used herein, the inorganic sunscreens are present in the amount of from about 0.1% to about 20%, preferably from about 0.5% to about 10%, more preferably from about 1% to about 5%, by weight of the composition.

15. Anti-Cellulite Agents

The compositions of the present invention may also comprise an anti-cellulite agent. Suitable agents may include, but are not limited to, xanthine compounds (e.g., caffeine, theophylline, theobromine, and aminophylline). In one embodiment, when anti-cellulite compounds are present in the compositions of the instant invention, the compositions comprise from about 0.0001% to about 50%, more preferably from about 0.001% to about 10%, still more preferably from about 0.01% to about 8%, and still more preferably from about 0.1% to about 5%, by weight of the composition, of the anti-cellulite compound.

Especially useful are combinations with the cellulite/slimming agents called Vexel™ (FR 2 654 619), Coaxel (FR 2 694 195), Cyclolipase™ (FR 2 733 149), Pleurimincyl™ and Lipocare™ (WO 98/43607), Redulite™ and Unislim™ (FR 0306063), all offered by SEDERMA.

16. Slimming, Toning or Draining Actives

The compositions can include one or more lipolytic agent selected among phosphodiesterase inhibitors (e.g., xanthine derivatives), alpha-2 blockers compounds capable of blocking alpha-2 receptors at the adipocytes surface, beta-adrenergical agonists and antagonists (e.g. alverine and its organic or inorganic salts such as alverine citrate), agents inhibiting LDL and VLDL receptors synthesis, inhibitors of enzymes of fatty acid synthesis such as acetylCoA carboxylase, or fatty acid synthetase or cerulenine, compounds stimulating beta receptors and/or G proteins, glucose transport blockers such as serutine or rutine, neuropeptide Y (NPY) antagonists capable of blocking NPY receptors at the adipocytes surface, cAMP and its cosmetically acceptable derivatives, adenylate cyclase enzyme active agents such as forskolin, agents modifying fat acids transport, lipolytic peptides and lipolytic proteins, like peptides or proteins such as the peptides derived from the parathyroidal hormone, described in particular in the patents FR 2788058 and FR 2781231.

Others examples of usable lipolytic agents include botanical and marine extracts:

-   -   among plant extracts, there may more particularly be mentioned         the extract of English ivy (Hedera Helix), of Chinese thorowax         (Bupleurum chinensis), of amica (Arnica Montana L), of rosemary         (Rosmarinus officinalis N), of marigold (Calendula officinalis),         of sage (Salvia officinalis L), of ginseng (Panax ginseng), of         ginko biloba, of St.-John's-Wort (Hyperycum Perforatum), of         butcher's-broom (Ruscus aculeatus L), of European meadowsweet         (Filipendula ulmaria L), of big-flowered Jarva tea (Orthosiphon         Stamincus Benth), of algae (Fucus Vesiculosus), of birch (Betula         alba), of green tea, of cola nuts (Cola Nipida), of         horse-chestnut, of bamboo, of spadeleaf (Centella asiatica), of         heather, of fucus, of willow, of mouse-ear, extracts of escine,         extracts of cangzhu, extracts of chrysanthellum indicum,         extracts of the plants of the Armeniacea genus, Atractylodis         Platicodon, Sinnomenum, Pharbitidis, Flemingia, extracts of         Coleus such as C. Forskohlii, C. blumei, C. esquirolii, C.         scutellaroides, C. xanthantus and C. Barbatus, such as the         extract of root of Coleus barbatus, extracts of Ballote,         extracts of Guioa, of Davallia, of Terminalia, of Barringtonia,         of Trema, of antirobia, cecropia, argania, dioscoreae such as         Dioscorea opposita or Mexican,     -   as extracted of marine origin: extracts of algae or         phytoplankton such as an extract of Laminaria digitata, diatoms,         rhodysterol. All these extracts being able of course to be taken         in mixtures.

The compositions according to the invention can also contain in addition one or more additional active selected among: agents acting on the microcirculation (vasculoprotectors or vasodilators) such as the natural flavonoids, ruscogenines, esculosides, escine, nicotinates, heperidine methyl chalcone, butcher's-broom, essential oils of lavender or rosemary, the extracts of Ammi visnaga; anti-glycation agents such as extracts of Centella asiatica and Siegesbeckia, silicium, amadorine, ergothioneine and its derivatives, hydroxystilbenes and their derivatives (e.g. resveratrol), vegetable extracts of the family of Ericaceae, in particular bilberry extracts (Vaccinium angustifollium), vitamin C and its derivatives, retinol and its derivatives.

17. Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) and Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)

The topical compositions of the present invention may comprise BHT or BHA.

In one embodiment, BHT and/or BHA is added from about 0.0001% to about 20% by weight of the composition, more preferably from about 0.001% to about 10%, even more preferably from about 0.01% to about 5%, and still more preferably from about 0.1% to about 0.5%.

18. Topical Anesthetics

The compositions of the present invention may also contain a safe and effective amount of a topical anesthetic. Examples of topical anesthetic drugs include benzocaine, lidocaine, bupivacaine, chlorprocaine, dibucaine, etidocaine, mepivacaine, tetracaine, dyclonine, hexylcaine, procaine, cocaine, ketamine, pramoxine, phenol, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

19. Desquamating/Keratolytic Actives

A desquamating/keratolytic active may be added to the compositions of the present invention. In one embodiment, the composition comprises from about 0.01% to about 10%, preferably from about 0.1% to about 5%, more preferably from about 0.5% to about 2%, by weight of the composition, of a desquamating/keratolytic active.

Examples of useful keratolytic and/or desquamating agents include urea, salicylic acid and alkyl derivatives thereof, saturated and unsaturated monocarboxylic acids, saturated and unsaturated bicarboxylic acids, tricarboxylic acids, alpha hydroxyacids and beta hydroxyacids of monocarboxylic acids, alpha hydroxyacids and beta hydroxyacids of bicarboxylic acids, alpha hydroxyacids and beta hydroxyacids of tricarboxylic acids, ketoacids, alpha ketoacids, beta ketoacids, of the polycarboxylic acids, of the polyhydroxy monocarboxylic acids, of the polyhydroxy bicarboxylic acids, of the polyhydroxy tricarboxylic acids.

Illustrative of this group of materials are 2-hydroxyethanoic acid (glycolic acid); 2-hydroxypropanoic acid (lactic acid); 2-methyl 2-hydroxypropanoic acid (methyllactic acid); 2-hydroxybutanoic acid; 2-hydroxypentanoic acid; 2-hydroxyhexanoic acid; 2-hydroxyheptanoic acid; 2-hydroxyoctanoic acid; 2 hydroxynonanoic acid; 2-hydroxydecanoic acid; 2-hydroxyundecanoic acid; 2-hydroxydodecanoic acid (alpha-hydroxylauric acid); 2-hydroxytetradecanoic acid (alpha-hydroxymyristic acid); 2-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid (alpha-hydroxypalmitic acid); 2-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid (alpha-hydroxystearic acid); 2-hydroxyeicosanoic acid (alpha-hydroxyarachidonic acid); 2-phenyl 2-hydroxyethanoic acid (mandelic acid); 2,2-diphenyl 2-hydroxyethanoic acid (benzilic acid); 3-phenyl 2-hydroxypropanoic acid (phenyl lactic acid); 2-phenyl 2-methyl 2-hydroxyethanoic acid (atrolactic acid); 2-(4′-hydroxyphenyl) 2-hydroxyethanoic acid; 2-(4′-chlorophenyl 2-hydroxyethanoic acid; 2-(3′-hydroxy-4′-methoxyphenyl) 2-hydroxyethanoic acid; 2-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl) 2-hydroxyethanoic acid; 3′-(2-hydroxyphenyl) 2-hydroxypropanoic acid; 3-(4′-hydroxyphenyl) 2-hydroxypropanoic acid; and 2-(3′, 4′dihydroxyphenyl), and 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 5-n-octanoylsalicylic acid, 5-n-dodecanoylsalicylic acid, 5-n-decanoylsalicylic acid, 5-n-octylsalicylic acid, 5-n-heptyloxysalicylic acid, 4-n-heptyloxysalicylic acid and 2-hydroxy-3-methylbenzoic acid or alkoxy derivatives thereof, such as 2-hydroxy-3-methyoxybenzoic acid.

Preferred keratolytic agents are selected from the group comprising glycolic acid, tartaric acid, salicylic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, pyruvic acid, gluconic acid, glucuronic acid, malic acid, mandelic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, acetic acid, phenol, resorcine, retinoic acid, adapalene, trichloroacetic acid, 5-fluoro uracil, azelaic acid. Keratolytic agents are also the salts, esters, possible cis or trans forms, racemic mixtures and/or the relative dextrorotatory or levorotatory forms of the above listed compounds. Such substances can be used singularly or in associations with each other.

Other keratolytic agents suitable for use herein can include enzymatic exfoliant based on a protease called Keratoline™ and offered by Sederma.

One desquamation system that is suitable for use herein comprises salicylic acid and zwitterionic surfactants and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,228. Another desquamation system that is suitable for use herein contains sulfhydryl compounds and zwitterionic surfactants and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,852. Zwitterionic surfactants such as those described in this referenced patent can also be useful as desquamatory agents herein, with cetyl betaine being particularly preferred.

20. Anti-Acne Actives

The compositions of the present invention can comprise one or more anti-acne actives. Examples of useful anti-acne actives include resorcinol, sulfur, erythromycin, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, dehydroacetic acid and zinc. Further examples of suitable anti-acne actives are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,980. Especially useful are combinations with the anti-acne ingredient called Ac.net™ offered by SEDERMA (WO 03/028692 A2).

In one embodiment, when anti-acne compounds are present in the compositions of the instant invention, the compositions comprise from about 0.0001% to about 50%, more preferably from about 0.001% to about 10%, still more preferably from about 0.01% to about 8%, and still more preferably from about 0.1% to about 5%, by weight of the composition, of the anti-acne compound.

21. Anti-Wrinkle Actives/Anti-Atrophy Actives

The compositions of the present invention can comprise a one or more anti-wrinkle actives or anti-atrophy actives. Exemplary anti-wrinkle/anti-atrophy actives suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention include sulfur-containing D and L amino acids and their derivatives and salts, particularly the N-acetyl derivatives, a preferred example of which is N-acetyl-L-cysteine; thiols, e.g. ethane thiol, hydroxy acids (e.g., alpha-hydroxy acids such as lactic acid and glycolic acid or beta-hydroxy acids such as salicylic acid and salicylic acid derivatives such as the octanoyl derivative, lactobionic acid), keto acids (e.g., pyruvic acid), phytic acid, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), stilbenes, cinnamates, resveratrol, kinetin, zeatin, dimethylaminoethanol, peptides from natural sources (e.g., soy peptides), and salts of sugar acids (e.g., Mn gluconate, Zn gluconate), lipoic acid; lysophosphatidic acid, skin peel agents (e.g., phenol and the like), vitamin B3 compounds and retinoids and other vitamin B compounds (e.g., thiamine (vitamin B1), pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and their derivatives and salts (e.g., HCL salts or calcium salts). Especially useful are combinations with the wrinkle agents called Dermolectine™ and Sterocare™ offered by SEDERMA (WO99/18927).

In one embodiment, when anti-wrinkle/anti-atrophy compounds are present in the compositions of the instant invention, the compositions comprise from about 0.0001% to about 50%, more preferably from about 0.001% to about 10%, still more preferably from about 0.01% to about 8%, and still more preferably from about 0.1% to about 5%, by weight of the composition, of the anti-wrinkle/anti-atrophy compound.

22. Anti-Oxidants/Racial Scavengers

The compositions of the present invention can include an anti-oxidant/radical scavenger. In one embodiment, the composition comprises from about 0.01% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 5%, of an anti-oxidant/radical scavenger.

Anti-oxidants/radical scavengers such as retinyl palmitate, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and its salts, ascorbyl esters of fatty acids, ascorbic acid derivatives (e.g., magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl sorbate), tocopherol (vitamin E), tocopherol sorbate, tocopherol acetate, other esters of tocopherol, butylated hydroxy benzoic acids and their salts, peroxides including hydrogen peroxide, perborate, thioglycolates, persulfate salts, 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (commercially available under the tradename Trolox®), gallic acid and its alkyl esters, especially propyl gallate, uric acid and its salts and alkyl esters, amines (e.g., N,N-diethylhydroxylamine, amino-guanidine), nordihydroguaiaretic acid, bioflavonoids, sulfhydryl compounds (e.g., glutathione), dihydroxy fumaric acid and its salts, lysine pidolate, arginine pilolate, amino acids, silymarin, lysine, 1-methionine, proline, superoxide dismutase, sorbic acids and its salts, lipoic acid, olive extracts, tea extracts, polyphenols such as proanthocyanidine from pine bark, carotenoids, curcumin compounds such as tetrahydrocurcumin, OCTA (L-2-oxo-4-thiazolidine carboxylic acid), glutathione, melanin, rosemary extracts and grape skin/seed extracts may be used. Preferred anti-oxidants/radical scavengers can be selected from esters of tocopherol, more preferably tocopherol acetate and tocopherol sorbate (U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,071)

23. Humectants, Moisturizers and Conditioning Agents

The compositions of the present invention can contain a safe and effective amount of a conditioning agent selected from, for example, humectants, moisturizers, and skin conditioners. A variety of these materials can be employed and in one embodiment can be present at a level of from about 0.01% to about 20%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 10%, and still more preferably from about 0.5% to about 7%, by weight of the composition. These materials can include, but are not limited to, guanidine, urea, glycolic acid, glycolate salts (e.g. ammonium and quaternary alkyl ammonium), salicylic acid, lactic acid, lactate salts (e.g., ammonium and quaternary alkyl ammonium), aloe vera in any of its variety of forms (e.g., aloe vera gel), polyhydroxy alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, erythritol, glycerol, hexanetriol, butanetriol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, hexylene glycol and the like, polyethylene glycols, sugars (e.g., melibiose), starches, sugar and starch derivatives (e.g., alkoxylated glucose, fructose, glucosamine), hyaluronic acid, lactamide monoethanolamine, acetamide monoethanolamine, panthenol, allantoin, petroleum and mixtures thereof. Also useful herein are the propoxylated glycerols described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,953.

Also useful are various C1-C30 monoesters and polyesters of sugars and related materials. These esters are derived from a sugar or polyol moiety and one or more carboxylic acid moieties.

Preferably, the conditioning agent is selected from urea, guanidine, sucrose polyester, panthenol, dexpanthenol, allantoin, glycerol, and combinations thereof.

Humectants can be selected from the group consisting of polyhydric alcohols, water soluble alkoxylated nonionic polymers, and mixtures thereof. Polyhydric alcohols useful herein include polyhydroxy alcohols aforementioned and glycerin, hexylene glycol, ethoxylated glucose, 1,2-hexane diol, dipropylene glycol, trehalose, diglycerin, maltitol, maltose, glucose, fructose, sodium chondroitin sulfate, sodium hyaluronate, sodium adenosine phosphate, sodium lactate, pyrrolidone carbonate, glucosamine, cyclodextrin, and mixtures thereof. Water soluble alkoxylated nonionic polymers useful herein include polyethylene glycols and polypropylene glycols having a molecular weight of up to about 1000 such as those with CTFA names PEG-200, PEG-400, PEG-600, PEG-1000, PPG-12/SMDI copolymer and mixtures thereof.

24. Active Oxygen Generation Inhibitors

The compositions of the present invention may also comprise a an active oxygen generation inhibitor selected from the group comprising quercetin, rutin, taxifolin, kaempferol, myricetin, curcumin, resveratrol, arecoline, apigenin, wogonin, luteolin, tectorigenin, and a mixture thereof.

This active oxygen generation inhibitor may be contained in an amount of about 0.001% to about 5%, more preferably in an amount of about 0.01% to about 3% %, by weight of the composition.

25. Chelators

The compositions of the present invention may also comprise a chelator or chelating agent. As used herein, “chelator” or “chelating agent” means an active agent capable of removing a metal ion from a system by forming a complex so that the metal ion cannot readily participate in or catalyze oxygen radical formation. In one embodiment, a chelating agent is added to a composition of the present invention, preferably from about 0.00001% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.001% to about 5%, by weight of the composition. Exemplary chelators that are useful herein include those that are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,884, WO 91/16035 and WO 91/16034. Examples of chelating agents include N-hydroxysuccinimide, EDTA, Disodium EDTA, NTA, deferoxamine, hydroxamic acids and their salts, phytic acid, phytate, gluconic acid and its salts, transferrine, lactoferrin; furildioxime and derivatives thereof.

26. Anti-Inflammatory Agents

An anti-inflammatory agent may be added to the compositions of the present invention. In one embodiment, an anti-inflammatory agent is added at a level of from about 0.01% to about 10%, preferably from about 0.5% to about 5%, by weight of the composition. The exact amount of anti-inflammatory agent to be used in the compositions will depend on the particular anti-inflammatory agent utilized since such agents vary widely in potency

Steroidal anti-inflammatory agents can include, but are not limited to, corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone. In addition, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents can be useful herein. The varieties of compounds encompassed by this group are well known to those skilled in the art. Specific non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents that can be useful in the composition of the present invention include, but are not limited to, oxicams such as piroxicam, salicylates such as aspirin; acetic acid derivatives, such as felbinac, fenamates, such as etofenamate, flufenamic, mefenamic, meclofenamic, acids; propionic acid derivatives, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, pyrazoles, and mixtures thereof. Mixtures of these non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents may also be employed, as well as the dermatologically acceptable salts and esters of these agents.

Finally, so-called “natural” anti-inflammatory agents are useful in methods of the present invention. Such agents may suitably be obtained as an extract by suitable physical and/or chemical isolation from natural sources (e.g., plants, fungi, by-products of microorganisms) or can be synthetically prepared. For example, candelilla wax, bisabolol (e.g., alpha bisabolol), aloe vera, plant sterols (e.g., phytosterol), Manjistha (extracted from plants in the genus Rubia, particularly Rubia Cordifolia), and Guggal (extracted from plants in the genus Commiphora, particularly Commiphora Mukul), kola extract, chamomile, red clover extract, Piper methysticum extract (Kava Kava from SEDERMA (FR 2 771 002 and WO 99/25369), Bacopa monieri extract (Bacocalmine™ from SEDERMA, WO 99/40897) and sea whip extract, may be used. Anti-inflammatory agents useful herein include allantoin and compounds of the Licorice (the plant genus/species Glycyrrhiza glabra) family, including glycyrrhetic acid, glycyrrhizic acid, and derivatives thereof (e.g., salts and esters). Suitable salts of the foregoing compounds include metal and ammonium salts. Suitable esters include C2-C24 saturated or unsaturated esters of the acids, preferably C10-C24, more preferably C16-C24. Specific examples of the foregoing include oil soluble licorice extract, the glycyrrhizic and glycyrrhetic acids themselves, monoammonium glycyrrhizinate, monopotassium glycyrrhizinate, dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, 1-beta-glycyrrhetic acid, stearyl glycyrrhetinate, and 3-stearyloxy-glycyrrhetinic acid, and disodium 3-succinyloxy-beta-glycyrrhetinate. Stearyl glycyrrhetinate is preferred. Additional anti inflammatory agents include diosgenol, saponines, sapogenines, lignanes, triterpenes saponosides and genines.

27. Tanning Actives

The compositions of the present invention can comprise a tanning active. In one embodiment, the composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 20%, more preferably from about 2% to about 7%, and even more preferably from about 3% to about 6%, by weight of the composition, of a tanning active. A preferred tanning active is dihydroxyacetone, which is also known as DHA or 1,3-dihydroxy-2-propanone. Especially useful are combinations with the tanning agents called Tyr-ol™ and Tyr-excel™ offered by SEDERMA and described in Fr 2 702 766 and WO 03/017966 respectively.

28. Skin Lightening Agents

The compositions of the present invention may contain a skin lightening agent. When used, the compositions preferably contain from about 0.001% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.02% to about 5%, also preferably from about 0.05% to about 2%, by weight of the composition, of a skin lightening agent. Suitable skin lightening agents include those known in the art, including kojic acid, hydroquinone, aminophenol derivatives, N-cholesteryloxycarbonyl-para-aminophenol and N-ethyloxycarbonyl-para-aminophenol; iminophenol derivatives, L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid or procysteine, and also its salts and esters, arbutin, tranexamic acid, ascorbic acid and derivatives thereof (e.g., magnesium ascorbyl phosphate or sodium ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl glucoside and the like (such as AA2G from Hayashibara)), and extracts (e.g., mulberry extract, placental extract, skullcap extract broussonetia extract, oil soluble liquorice extract (such as these available from Maruzen), oil soluble liquorice extract (glycyrrhiza, chamomile extract (such as these available from Kao)), m-Tranexamic acid/vitamin C ethyl (such as these available from Shiseido), adenosine monophosphate disodium (APM offered by Otsuka), ellagic acid (Lion), rucinol (Pola), ethyl ascorbyl ether). Skin lightening agents suitable for use herein also include those described in WO95/34280, PCT/US 95/07432, co-pending. U.S. Ser. No. 08/390,152 and PCT/US 95/23780. Especially useful are combinations with the skin lightening agents called Melaclear™, Etioline™, Melaslow™ and Lumiskin™ offered by SEDERMA and described respectively in FR 2 732 215, WO 98/05299, WO 02/15871 and PCT/FR 03/02400. Other skin lightening materials suitable for use herein can include Actiwhite® (Cognis), Emblica® (Rona), Azeloglicina (Sinerga) and Sepiwhite® (Seppic). A preferred skin lightening agent is ascorbyl glucoside.

29. Antimicrobial, Antibacterial and Antifungal Actives

The compositions of the present invention can comprise one or more anti-fungal or anti-microbial actives. A safe and effective amount of an antimicrobial or antifungal active can be added to the present compositions. In one embodiment, the composition comprises from about 0.001% to about 10%, preferably from about 0.01% to about 5%, and more preferably from about 0.05% to about 2%, by weight of the composition, of an antimicrobial or antifungal active.

Suitable anti-microbial actives include coal tar, sulfur, whitfield's ointment, castellani's paint, aluminum chloride, gentian violet, octopirox (piroctone olamine), 3,4,4′-trichlorocarbanilide (trichlosan), triclocarban, ciclopirox olamine, undecylenic acid and it's metal salts, potassium permanganate, selenium sulphide, sodium thiosulfate, propylene glycol, oil of bitter orange, urea preparations, griseofulvin, 8-Hydroxyquinoline ciloquinol, thiobendazole, thiocarbamates, haloprogin, polyenes, hydroxypyridone, morpholine, benzylamine, allylamines (such as terbinafine), tea tree oil, clove leaf oil, coriander, palmarosa, berberine, thyme red, cinnamon oil, cinnamic aldehyde, citronellic acid, hinokitol, ichthyol pale, Sensiva SC-50, Elestab HP-100, azelaic acid, lyticase, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate (IPBC), isothiazalinones such as octyl isothiazolinone and azoles, and combinations thereof. Preferred anti-microbials include itraconazole, ketoconazole, selenium sulphide and coal tar. In one embodiment, one or more anti-fungal or anti-microbial active is combined with an anti-dandruff active selected from polyvalent metal salts of pyrithione.

a. Azoles

Azole anti-microbials include imidazoles such as benzimidazole, benzothiazole, bifonazole, butoconazole nitrate, climbazole, clotrimazole, croconazole, eberconazole, econazole, elubiol, fenticonazole, fluconazole, flutimazole, isoconazole, ketoconazole, lanoconazole, metronidazole, miconazole, neticonazole, omoconazole, oxiconazole nitrate, sertaconazole, sulconazole nitrate, tioconazole, thiazole, and triazoles such as terconazole and itraconazole, and combinations thereof. When present in the composition, the azole anti-microbial active is included in an amount from about 0.01% to about 5%, preferably from about 0.1% to about 3%, and more preferably from about 0.3% to about 2%, by weight of the composition. Especially preferred herein are ketoconazole and climbazole.

b. Selenium Sulfide

Selenium sulfide is a particulate anti-dandruff agent suitable for use in the anti-microbial compositions of the present invention, effective concentrations of which range from about 0.1% to about 4%, by weight of the composition, preferably from about 0.3% to about 2.5%, more preferably from about 0.5% to about 1.5

c. Sulfur

Sulfur may also be used as a particulate anti-microbial/anti-dandruff agent in the anti-microbial compositions of the present invention. Effective concentrations of the particulate sulfur are typically from about 1% to about 4%, by weight of the composition, preferably from about 2% to about 4%.

d. Additional Anti-microbial Actives

Additional anti-microbial actives of the present invention may include one or more keratolytic agents such as salicylic acid, extracts of melaleuca (tea tree) and charcoal. The present invention may also comprise combinations of anti-microbial actives. Such combinations may include octopirox and zinc pyrithione combinations, pine tar and sulfur combinations, salicylic acid and zinc pyrithione combinations, octopirox and climbasole combinations, and salicylic acid and octopirox combinations, and mixtures thereof.

Preferred examples of actives useful herein include those selected from the group consisting of benzoyl peroxide, 3-hydroxy benzoic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, 4-hydroxy benzoic acid, 2-hydroxybutanoic acid, 2-hydroxypentanoic acid, 2-hydroxyhexanoic acid, phytic acid, lipoic acid, azelaic acid, arachidonic acid, benzoylperoxide, tetracycline, ibuprofen, naproxen, hydrocortisone, acetominophen, resorcinol, phenoxyethanol, phenoxypropanol, phenoxyisopropanol, 2,4,4′-trichloro-2′-hydroxy diphenyl ether, 3,4,4′-trichlorocarbanilide, octopirox, ciclopirox, lidocaine hydrochloride, clotrimazole, miconazole, ketoconazole, neomycin sulfate, and mixtures thereof.

Especially useful are combinations with the ingredient range called OSMOCIDE™ offered by SEDERMA (WO 97/05856).

30. Thickening Agents (Including Thickeners and Gelling Agents)

The compositions of the present invention can comprise one or more thickening agents. In one embodiment, a thickening agent is present at a level of from about 0.05% to about 10%, preferably from about 0.1% to about 5%, and more preferably from about 0.25% to about 4%, by weight of the composition. Nonlimiting classes of thickening agents include those selected from the following:

a. Carboxylic Acid Polymers

These polymers are crosslinked compounds containing one or more monomers derived from acrylic acid, substituted acrylic acids, and salts and esters of these acrylic acids and the substituted acrylic acids, wherein the crosslinking agent contains two or more carbon-carbon double bonds and is derived from a polyhydric alcohol. Polymers useful in the present invention are more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,445, U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,949, U.S. Pat. No. 2,798,053, and in CTFA International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary, Tenth Edition, 2004.

Examples of commercially available carboxylic acid polymers useful herein include the carbomers, which are homopolymers of acrylic acid crosslinked with allyl ethers of sucrose or pentaerytritol. The carbomers are available as the Carbopol® 900 series from B.F. Goodrich (e.g., Carbopol® 954). In addition, other suitable carboxylic acid polymeric agents include Ultrez® 10 (B.F. Godrich) and copolymers of C10-C30 alkyl acrylates with one or more monomers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, or one of their short chain (i.e., C1-4 alcohol) esters, wherein the crosslinking agent is an allyl ether of sucrose or pentaerytritol. These copolymers are known as acrylates/C10-C30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymers and are commercially available as Carbopol® 1342, Carbopol® 1382, Pemulen TR-1, and Pemulen TR-2, from B.F. Goodrich. In other words, examples of carboxylic acid polymer thickeners useful herein are those selected from carbomers, acrylates/C10-C30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymers, and mixtures thereof.

b. Crosslinked Polyacrylate Polymers

The compositions of the present invention can optionally contain crosslinked polyacrylate polymers useful as thickeners or gelling agents including both cationic and nonionic polymers, with the cationics being generally preferred. Examples of useful crosslinked nonionic polyacrylate polymers and crosslinked cationic polyacrylate polymers are those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,660, U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,484, U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,206, U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,078 U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,379 and EP 228,868.

c. Polyacrylamide Polymers

The compositions of the present invention can optionally contain polyacrylamide polymers, especially nonionic polyacrylamide polymers including substituted branched or unbranched polymers. Preferred among these polyacrylamide polymers is the nonionic polymer given the CTFA designation polyacrylamide and isoparaffin and laureth-7, available under the Tradename Sepigel 305 from Seppic Corporation.

Other polyacrylamide polymers useful herein include multi-block copolymers of acrylamides and substituted acrylamides with acrylic acids and substituted acrylic acids. Commercially available examples of these multi-block copolymers include Hypan SR150H, SS500V, SS500W, SSSA100H, from Lipo Chemicals, Inc.

The compositions may also contain thickening and texturising gels of the type as exemplified by the product range called Lubrajel® from United Guardian. These gels have moisturizing, viscosifying, stabilizing properties and may be used in concentration ranges between 1 and 99%, most advantageously between 5 and 15%.

d. Polysaccharides

A wide variety of polysaccharides can be useful herein. “Polysaccharides” refer to gelling agents that contain a backbone of repeating sugar (i.e., carbohydrate) units. Nonlimiting examples of polysaccharide gelling agents include those selected from the group consisting of cellulose, carboxymethyl hydroxyethylcellulose, cellulose acetate propionate carboxylate, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxyethyl ethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, methyl hydroxyethylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium cellulose sulfate, and mixtures thereof. Also useful herein are the alkyl-substituted celluloses. Preferred among the alkyl hydroxyalkyl cellulose ethers is the material given the CTFA designation cetyl hydroxyethylcellulose, which is the ether of cetyl alcohol and hydroxyethylcellulose. This material is sold under the tradename Natrosol® CS Plus from Aqualon Corporation.

Other useful polysaccharides include scleroglucans comprising a linear chain of (1-3) linked glucose units with a (1-6) linked glucose every three units, a commercially available example of which is Clearogel™ CS11 from Michel Mercier Products Inc.

e. Gums

Other thickening and gelling agents useful herein include materials which are primarily derived from natural sources. Nonlimiting examples of these gelling agent gums include acacia, agar, algin, alginic acid, ammonium alginate, amylopectin, calcium alginate, calcium carrageenan, camitine, carrageenan, dextrin, gelatin, gellan gum, guar gum, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, hectorite, hyaluronic acid, hydrated silica, hydroxypropyl chitosan, hydroxypropyl guar, karaya gum, kelp, locust bean gum, natto gum, potassium alginate, potassium carrageenan, propylene glycol alginate, sclerotium gum, sodium carboxymethyl dextran, sodium carrageenan, tragacanth gum, xanthan gum, and mixtures thereof.

31. Antiperspirant Actives

Antiperspirant actives may also be included in the compositions of the present invention. Suitable antiperspirant actives include astringent metallic salts, especially the inorganic and organic salts of aluminum zirconium and zinc, as well as mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred are the aluminum containing and/or zirconium-containing materials or salts, such as aluminum halides, aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum hydroxyhalides, zirconyl oxyhalides, zirconyl hydroxyhalides, and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, when antiperspirant actives are present in the compositions of the instant invention, the compositions comprise from about 0.01% to about 50%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 40%, and still more preferably from about 1% to about 30%, by weight of the composition, of the antiperspirant compound.

32. Detersive Surfactants

The compositions of the present invention can include detersive surfactant from about 1% to about 90%, more preferably from about 5% to about 10%. The detersive surfactant component can be included to provide cleaning performance to the composition. The detersive surfactant component in turn can comprise anionic detersive surfactant, zwitterionic or amphoteric detersive surfactant, or a combination thereof. Suitable anionic detersive surfactant components for use in the composition herein include those which are known for use in hair care or other personal care cleansing compositions. When included, the concentration of the anionic surfactant component in the composition can preferably be sufficient to provide the desired cleaning and lather performance, and generally can range from about 5% to about 50%, preferably from about 8% to about 30%, more preferably from about 10% to about 25%, even more preferably from about 12% to about 22%.

Preferred anionic surfactants suitable for use in the compositions are the alkyl and alkyl ether sulfates. Other suitable anionic detersive surfactants are the water-soluble salts of organic, sulfuric acid reaction products, alkoyl isethionates, sodium or potassium salts of fatty acid amides of methyl tauride, olefin sulfonates, and beta-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates. Preferred anionic detersive surfactants for use in the compositions include ammonium lauryl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, triethylamine lauryl sulfate, triethylamine laureth sulfate, triethanolamine lauryl sulfate, triethanolamine laureth sulfate, monoethanolamine lauryl sulfate, monoethanolamine laureth sulfate, diethanolamine lauryl sulfate, diethanolamine laureth sulfate, lauric monoglyceride sodium sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, potassium lauryl sulfate, potassium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sarcosinate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, lauryl sarcosine, cocoyl sarcosine, ammonium cocoyl sulfate, ammonium lauroyl sulfate, sodium cocoyl sulfate, sodium lauroyl sulfate, potassium cocoyl sulfate, potassium lauryl sulfate, triethanolamine lauryl sulfate, triethanolamine lauryl sulfate, monoethanolamine cocoyl sulfate, monoethanolamine lauryl sulfate, sodium tridecyl benzene sulfonate, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, sodium cocoyl isethionate and combinations thereof.

Suitable amphoteric or zwitterionic detersive surfactants for use in the composition herein include those which are known for use in hair care or other personal care cleansing. Concentration of such amphoteric detersive surfactants preferably ranges from about 0.5% to about 20%, preferably from about 1% to about 10%. Non limiting examples of suitable zwitterionic or amphoteric surfactants are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,104,646 and 5,106,609.

Amphoteric detersive surfactants include derivatives of aliphatic secondary and tertiary amines.

The compositions of the present invention may further comprise additional surfactants for use in combination with the anionic detersive surfactant component described hereinbefore. Suitable optional surfactants include nonionic and cationic surfactants. Any such surfactant known in the art for use in hair or personal care products may be used, provided that the optional additional surfactant is also chemically and physically compatible with the essential components of the composition, or does not otherwise unduly impair product performance, aesthetics or stability. The concentration of the optional additional surfactants in the composition may vary with the cleansing or lather performance desired, the optional surfactant selected, the desired product concentration, the presence of other components in the composition, and other factors well known in the art.

Non limiting examples of other anionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric or optional additional surfactants suitable for use in the compositions are described in McCutcheon's, Emulsifiers and Detergents, 1989 Annual, published by M. C. Publishing Co., and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,929,678, 2,658,072; 2,438,091; 2,528,378.

33. Cationic, Anionic and Amphoteric Polymers

The compositions of the present invention can comprise polymers which may be homopolymers, copolymers, terpolymers, etc. For convenience in describing the polymers hereof, monomeric units present in the polymers may be referred to as the monomers from which they can be derived. The monomers can be ionic (e.g., anionic, cationic, amphoteric, zwitterionic) or non-ionic.

When included, concentrations of the cationic polymer in the composition can typically range from about 0.05% to about 3%, preferably from about 0.075% to about 2.0%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 1.0

a. Cationic polymers

Suitable cationic polymers for use in the compositions of the present invention contain cationic nitrogen-containing moieties such as quaternary ammonium or cationic protonated amino moieties. Any anionic counterions can be used in association with the cationic polymers so long as the polymers remain soluble in water, in the composition, or in a coacervate phase of the composition, and so long as the counterions are physically and chemically compatible with the essential components of the composition or do not otherwise unduly impair product performance, stability or aesthetics. Non limiting examples of such counterions include halides (e.g., chloride, fluoride, bromide, iodide), sulfate and methylsulfate. Non limiting examples of such polymers are described in the CTFA.

Non limiting examples of suitable cationic polymers include copolymers of vinyl monomers having cationic protonated amine or quaternary ammonium functionalities with water soluble spacer monomers such as acrylamide, methacrylamide, alkyl and dialkyl acrylamides, alkyl and dialkyl methacrylamides, alkyl acrylate, alkyl methacrylate, vinyl caprolactone or vinyl pyrrolidone.

Examples of cationic monomers include monomers derived from acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, and a quatemarized epihalohydrin product of a trialkylamine having 1 to 5 carbon atoms in the alkyl such as (meth)acryloxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride and (meth)acryloxypropyltriethylammonium bromide; amine derivatives of methacrylic acid or amine derivatives of methacrylamide derived from methacrylic acid or methacrylamide and a dialkylalkanolamine having C1-C6 alkyl groups such as dimethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate, diethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate, dimethylaminopropyl (meth)acrylate, or dimethylaminopropyl (meth)acrylamide.

Suitable cationic protonated amino and quaternary ammonium monomers, for inclusion in the cationic polymers of the composition herein, include vinyl compounds substituted with dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate, dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate, monoalkylaminoalkyl acrylate, monoalkylaminoalkyl methacrylate, trialkyl methacryloxyalkyl ammonium salt, trialkyl acryloxyalkyl ammonium salt, diallyl quaternary ammonium salts, and vinyl quaternary ammonium monomers having cyclic cationic nitrogen-containing rings such as pyridinium, imidazolium, and quaternized pyrrolidone, e.g., alkyl vinyl imidazolium, alkyl vinyl pyridinium, alkyl vinyl pyrrolidone salts.

Other suitable cationic polymers for use in the compositions include copolymers of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and 1-vinyl-3-methylimidazolium salt (e.g., chloride salt) (referred to in the industry by the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, “CTFA”, as Polyquatemium-16); copolymers of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (referred to in the industry by CTFA as Polyquaternium-11); cationic diallyl quaternary ammonium-containing polymers, including, for example, dimethyldiallylammonium chloride homopolymer, copolymers of acrylamide and dimethyldiallylammonium chloride (referred to in the industry by CTFA as Polyquaternium 6 and Polyquatemium 7, respectively); amphoteric copolymers of acrylic acid including copolymers of acrylic acid and dimethyldiallylammonium chloride (referred to in the industry by CTFA as Polyquatemium 22), terpolymers of acrylic acid with dimethyldiallylammonium chloride and acrylamide (referred to in the industry by CTFA as Polyquatemium 39), and terpolymers of acrylic acid with methacrylamidopropyl trimethylammonium chloride and methylacrylate (referred to in the industry by CTFA as Polyquatemium 47). Preferred cationic substituted monomers are the cationic substituted dialkylaminoalkyl acrylamides, dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylamides, and combinations thereof. A non limiting example is polymethyacrylamidopropyl trimonium chloride, available under the tradename Polycare 133, from Rhone-Poulenc.

Other suitable cationic polymers for use in the composition include polysaccharide polymers, such as cationic cellulose derivatives and cationic starch derivatives.

Preferred cationic cellulose polymers are salts of hydroxyethyl cellulose reacted with trimethyl ammonium substituted epoxide, referred to in the industry (CTFA) as Polyquaternium 10 and available from Amerchol Corp. in their Polymer LR, JR, and KG series of polymers. Other suitable types of cationic cellulose include the polymeric quaternary ammonium salts of hydroxyethyl cellulose reacted with lauryl dimethyl ammonium-substituted epoxide referred to in the industry (CTFA) as Polyquaternium 24. These materials are available from Amerchol Corp. under the tradename Polymer LM-200. Other suitable cationic polymers include cationic guar gum derivatives, such as guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, specific examples of which include the Jaguar series commercially available from Rhone-Poulenc Incorporated and the N-Hance series commercially available from Aqualon Division of Hercules, Inc. Other suitable cationic polymers include quaternary nitrogen-containing cellulose ethers, some examples of which are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,962,418. Other suitable cationic polymers include copolymers of etherified cellulose, guar and starch, some examples of which are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,958,581. When used, the cationic polymers herein are either soluble in the composition or are soluble in a complex coacervate phase in the composition formed by the cationic polymer and the anionic, amphoteric and/or zwitterionic detersive surfactant component described hereinbefore. Complex coacervates of the cationic polymer can also be formed with other charged materials in the composition.

b. Anionic Polymers

Examples of anionic polymers are copolymers of vinyl acetate and crotonic acid, terpolymers of vinyl acetate, crotonic acid and a vinyl ester of an alpha-branched saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acid such as vinyl neodecanoate; and copolymers of methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride, acrylic copolymers and terpolymers containing acrylic acid or methacrylic acid.

Examples of anionic monomers include unsaturated carboxylic acid monomers such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, maleic acid half ester, itaconic acid, fumeric acid, and crotonic acid; half esters of an unsaturated polybasic acid anhydride such as succinic anhydride, phthalic anhydride or the like with a hydroxyl group-containing acrylate and/or methacrylate such as hydroxyethyl acrylate and, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate and the like; monomers having a sulfonic acid group such as styrenesulfonic acid, sulfoethyl acrylate and methacrylate, and the like; and monomers having a phosphoric acid group such as acid phosphooxyethyl acrylate and methacrylate, 3-chloro-2-acid phosphooxypropyl acrylate and methacrylate, and the like.

c. Amphoteric Monomers

Examples of the amphoteric monomers include zwitterionized derivatives of the aforementioned amine derivatives of (meth)acrylic acids or the amine derivatives of (meth)acrylamide such as dimethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate, dimethylaminopropyl (meth)acrylamide by a halogenated fatty acid salt such as potassium monochloroacetate, sodium monobromopropionate, aminomethylpropanol salt of monochloroacetic acid, triethanolamine salts of monochloroacetic acid and the like; and amine derivatives of (meth)acrylic acid or (meth)acrylamide, as discussed above, modified with propanesultone.

34. Nonionic Polymers

The compositions herein can comprise nonionic polymers. For instance, polyalkylene glycols having a molecular weight of more than about 1000 can be used. Preferred polyethylene glycol polymers can include PEG-2M (also known as Polyox WSR® N-10, which is available from Union Carbide and as PEG-2,000); PEG-5M (also known as Polyox WSR® N-35 and Polyox WSR® N-80, available from Union Carbide and as PEG-5,000 and Polyethylene Glycol 300,000); PEG-7M (also known as Polyox WSR® N-750 available from Union Carbide); PEG-9M (also known as Polyox WSR® N-3333 available from Union Carbide); and PEG-14 M (also known as Polyox WSR® N-3000 available from Union Carbide).

Examples of nonionic monomers are acrylic or methacrylic acid esters of C1-C24 alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 1-pentanol, 2-pentanol, 3-pentanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 1-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 1-methyl-1-pentanol, 2-methyl-1-pentanol, 3-methyl-1-pentanol, t-butanol, cyclohexanol, 2-ethyl-1-butanol, 3-heptanol, benzyl alcohol, 2-octanol, 6-methyl-1-heptanol, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, 3,5-dimethyl-1-hexanol, 3,5,5-trimethyl-1-hexanol, 1-decanol, 1-dodecanol, 1-hexadecanol, 1-octadecanol, styrene, chlorostyrene, vinyl esters such as vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, acrylonitrile, alpha-methylstyrene, t-butylstyrene, butadiene, cyclohexadiene, ethylene, propylene, vinyl toluene, alkoxyalkyl (meth)acrylate, methoxy ethyl (meth)acrylate, butoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, allyl acrylate, allyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl acrylate and methacrylate, oleyl acrylate and methacrylate, benzyl acrylate and methacrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate and methacrylate, ethylene glycol di-acrylate and -methacrylate, 1,3-butyleneglycol di-acrylate and -methacrylate, diacetonacrylamide, isobornyl (meth)acrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, t-butylacrylate, t-butylmethacrylate, and mixtures thereof.

35. Hair Conditioning Agents

Conditioning agents include any material which is used to give a particular conditioning benefit to keratinous tissue. For instance, in hair treatment compositions, suitable conditioning agents include those which deliver one or more benefits relating to shine, softness, combability, antistatic properties, wet-handling, damage, manageability, body, and greasiness. Conditioning agents useful in the compositions of the present invention can comprise a water insoluble, water dispersible, non-volatile liquid that forms emulsified, liquid particles. Suitable conditioning agents for use in the composition include those conditioning agents characterized generally as silicones (e.g., silicone oils, cationic silicones, silicone gums, high refractive silicones, and silicone resins), organic conditioning oils (e.g., hydrocarbon oils, polyolefins, and fatty esters) or combinations thereof, or those conditioning agents which otherwise form liquid, dispersed particles in the aqueous surfactant matrix herein.

When included, the concentration of the conditioning agent in the composition can be sufficient to provide the desired conditioning benefits, and as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such concentration can vary with the conditioning agent, the conditioning performance desired, the average size of the conditioning agent particles, the type and concentration of other components, and other like factors.

a. Silicones

The conditioning agent of the compositions of the present invention is preferably an insoluble silicone conditioning agent. The silicone conditioning agent particles may comprise volatile silicone, non-volatile silicone, or combinations thereof. Preferred are non-volatile silicone conditioning agents. If volatile silicones are present, it will typically be incidental to their use as a solvent or carrier for commercially available forms of non-volatile silicone materials ingredients, such as silicone gums and resins. The silicone conditioning agent particles may comprise a silicone fluid conditioning agent and may also comprise other ingredients, such as a silicone resin to improve silicone fluid deposition efficiency or enhance glossiness of the hair.

The concentration of the silicone conditioning agent typically ranges from about 0.01% to about 10%, preferably from about 0.1% to about 8%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 5%, more preferably from about 0.2% to about 3%. Non-limiting examples of suitable silicone conditioning agents, and optional suspending agents for the silicone, are described in U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 34,584, U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,646, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,609.

Background material on silicones including sections discussing silicone fluids, gums, and resins, as well as manufacture of silicones, are found in Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, vol. 15, 2d ed., pp 204-308, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (1989).

b. Silicone Oils

Silicone fluids include silicone oils, which are flowable silicone materials having a viscosity, as measured at 25° C., less than 1,000,000 csk, preferably from about 5 csk to about 1,000,000 csk, more preferably from about 100 csk to about 600,000 csk. Suitable silicone oils for use in the compositions of the present invention include polyalkyl siloxanes, polyaryl siloxanes, polyalkylaryl siloxanes, polyether siloxane copolymers, and mixtures thereof. Other insoluble, non-volatile silicone fluids having hair conditioning properties may also be used.

C. Amino and Cationic Silicones

Cationic silicone fluids suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, the polymer known as “trimethylsilylamodimethicone”. Other silicone cationic polymers which may be used in the compositions of the present invention may be UCARE SILICONE ALE 56™, available from Union Carbide.

d. Silicone Gums

Other silicone fluids suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention are the insoluble silicone gums. These gums are polyorganosiloxane materials having a viscosity, as measured at 25° C., of greater than or equal to 1,000,000 csk. Silicone gums are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,416; Noll and Walter, Chemistry and Technology of Silicones, New York: Academic Press (1968); and in General Electric Silicone Rubber Product Data Sheets SE 30, SE 33, SE 54 and SE 76. Specific non-limiting examples of silicone gums for use in the compositions of the present invention include polydimethylsiloxane, (polydimethylsiloxane) (methylvinylsiloxane) copolymer, poly(dimethylsiloxane) (diphenyl siloxane) (methylvinylsiloxane) copolymer and mixtures thereof.

e. High Refractive Index Silicones

Other non-volatile, insoluble silicone fluid conditioning agents that are suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention are those known as “high refractive index silicones,” having a refractive index of at least about 1.46, preferably at least about 1.48, more preferably at least about 1.52, more preferably at least about 1.55. The refractive index of the polysiloxane fluid will generally be less than about 1.70, typically less than about 1.60. In this context, polysiloxane “fluid” includes oils as well as gums.

When high refractive index silicones are used in the compositions of the present invention, they are preferably used in solution with a spreading agent, such as a silicone resin or a surfactant, to reduce the surface tension by a sufficient amount to enhance spreading and thereby enhance the glossiness (subsequent to drying) of hair treated with the compositions.

Silicone fluids suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,826,551, U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,500, U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,837, British Pat. No. 849,433, and Silicon Compounds, Petrarch Systems, Inc. (1984).

f. Silicone Resins

Silicone resins may be included in the silicone conditioning agent of the compositions of the present invention. These resins are highly cross-linked polymeric siloxane systems. The cross-linking is introduced through the incorporation of trifunctional and tetrafunctional silanes with monofunctional or difunctional, or both, silanes during manufacture of the silicone resin.

36. Organic Conditioning Oils

Compositions of the present invention may also comprise organic conditioning oil. In one embodiment, from about 0.05% to about 20%, preferably from about 0.08% to about 1.5%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 1%, of at least one organic conditioning oil is included as a conditioning agent, either alone or in combination with other conditioning agents, such as the silicones (described herein).

a. Hydrocarbon Oils

Suitable organic conditioning oils for use as conditioning agents in the compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, hydrocarbon oils having at least about 10 carbon atoms, such as cyclic hydrocarbons, straight chain aliphatic hydrocarbons (saturated or unsaturated), and branched chain aliphatic hydrocarbons (saturated or unsaturated), including polymers and mixtures thereof. Straight chain hydrocarbon oils preferably are from about C12 to about C19. Branched chain hydrocarbon oils, including hydrocarbon polymers, typically will contain more than 19 carbon atoms.

Specific non-limiting examples of these hydrocarbon oils include paraffin oil, mineral oil, saturated and unsaturated dodecane, saturated and unsaturated tridecane, saturated and unsaturated tetradecane, saturated and unsaturated pentadecane, saturated and unsaturated hexadecane, polybutene, polydecene, and mixtures thereof. Branched-chain isomers of these compounds, as well as of higher chain length hydrocarbons, can also be used, examples of which include highly branched, saturated or unsaturated, alkanes such as the permethyl-substituted isomers, e.g., the permethyl-substituted isomers of hexadecane and eicosane, such as 2,2,4,4,6,6,8,8-dimethyl-10-methylundecane and 2,2,4,4,6,6-dimethyl-8-methylnonane, available from Permethyl Corporation, hydrocarbon polymers such as polybutene and polydecene. A preferred hydrocarbon polymer is polybutene, such as the copolymer of isobutylene and butene. A commercially available material of this type is L-14 polybutene from Amoco Chemical Corporation. Another example is hydrogenated polyisobute or liquid isoparaffine.

b. Polyolefins

Organic conditioning oils for use in the compositions of the present invention can also include liquid polyolefins, more preferably liquid poly-α-olefins, more preferably hydrogenated liquid poly-α-olefins. Polyolefins for use herein are prepared by polymerization of C4 to about C14 olefenic monomers, preferably from about C6 to about C12.

Preferred non-limiting examples of olefenic monomers for use in preparing the polyolefin liquids herein include ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene to 1-hexadecenes, 1-octene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, branched chain isomers such as 4-methyl-1-pentene, and mixtures thereof. Also suitable for preparing the polyolefin liquids are olefin-containing refinery feedstocks or effluents.

c. Fatty Esters

Other suitable organic conditioning oils for use as the conditioning agent in the compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, fatty esters having at least 10 carbon atoms. These fatty esters include esters with hydrocarbyl chains derived from fatty acids or alcohols (e.g. mono-esters, polyhydric alcohol esters, and di- and tri-carboxylic acid esters). The hydrocarbyl radicals of the fatty esters hereof may include or have covalently bonded thereto other compatible functionalities, such as amides and alkoxy moieties (e.g., ethoxy or ether linkages, etc.).

Specific examples of preferred fatty esters include, but are not limited to: isopropyl isostearate, hexyl laurate, isohexyl laurate, isohexyl palmitate, isopropyl palmitate, decyl oleate, isodecyl oleate, hexadecyl stearate, decyl stearate, isopropyl isostearate, dihexyldecyl adipate, lauryl lactate, myristyl lactate, cetyl lactate, oleyl stearate, oleyl oleate, oleyl myristate, lauryl acetate, cetyl propionate, and oleyl adipate.

Other fatty esters suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention are mono-carboxylic acid esters of the general formula R′COOR, wherein R′ and R are alkyl or alkenyl radicals, and the sum of carbon atoms in R′ and R is at least 10, preferably at least 22.

Still other fatty esters suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention are di- and tri-alkyl and alkenyl esters of carboxylic acids, such as esters of C4 to C8 dicarboxylic acids (e.g. C1 to C22 esters, preferably C1 to C6, of succinic acid, glutaric acid, and adipic acid). Specific non-limiting examples of di- and tri-alkyl and alkenyl esters of carboxylic acids include isocetyl stearyol stearate, diisopropyl adipate, and tristearyl citrate.

Other fatty esters suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention are those known as polyhydric alcohol esters. Such polyhydric alcohol esters include alkylene glycol esters, such as ethylene glycol mono and di-fatty acid esters, diethylene glycol mono- and di-fatty acid esters, polyethylene glycol mono- and di-fatty acid esters, propylene glycol mono- and di-fatty acid esters, polypropylene glycol monooleate, polypropylene glycol 2000 monostearate, ethoxylated propylene glycol monostearate, glyceryl mono- and di-fatty acid esters, polyglycerol poly-fatty acid esters, ethoxylated glyceryl monostearate, 1,3-butylene glycol monostearate, 1,3-butylene glycol distearate, polyoxyethylene polyol fatty acid ester, sorbitan fatty acid esters, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters.

Still other fatty esters suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention are glycerides, including, but not limited to, mono-, di-, and tri-glycerides, preferably di- and tri-glycerides, more preferably triglycerides. For use in the compositions described herein, the glycerides are preferably the mono-, di-, and tri-esters of glycerol and long chain carboxylic acids, such as C10 to C22 carboxylic acids. A variety of these types of materials can be obtained from vegetable and animal fats and oils, such as castor oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, olive oil, cod liver oil, almond oil, avocado oil, palm oil, sesame oil, lanolin and soybean oil. Synthetic oils include, but are not limited to, triolein and tristearin glyceryl dilaurate.

Other fatty esters suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention are water insoluble synthetic fatty esters.

Specific non-limiting examples of suitable synthetic fatty esters for use in the compositions of the present invention include: P-43 (C8-C10 triester of trimethylolpropane), MCP-684 (tetraester of 3,3 diethanol-1,5 pentadiol), MCP 121 (C8-C10 diester of adipic acid), all of which are available from Mobil Chemical Company.

37. Anti-dandruff Actives

The compositions of the present invention may also contain an anti-dandruff agent. Suitable, non-limiting examples of anti-dandruff particulates include: pyridinethione salts, azoles, selenium sulfide, particulate sulfur, and mixtures thereof. Preferred are pyridinethione salts, especially 1-hydroxy-2-pyridinethione salts. The concentration of pyridinethione anti-dandruff particulate typically ranges from about 0.1% to about 4%, by weight of the composition, preferably from about 0.1% to about 3%, more preferably from about 0.3% to about 2%. Preferred pyridinethione salts include those formed from heavy metals such as zinc, tin, cadmium, magnesium, aluminum and zirconium, preferably zinc, more preferably the zinc salt of 1-hydroxy-2-pyridinethione (known as “zinc pyridinethione” or “ZPT”). Pyridinethione anti-dandruff agents are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,809,971; U.S. Pat. No. 3,236,733; U.S. Pat. No. 3,753,196; U.S. Pat. No. 3,761,418; U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,080; U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,683; U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,753; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,982.

38. Humectant

The compositions of the present invention may contain a humectant. Humectants can be selected from the group consisting of polyhydric alcohols, water soluble alkoxylated nonionic polymers, and mixtures thereof. Humectants, when used herein, are preferably used at levels of from about 0.1% to about 20%, more preferably from about 0.5% to about 5%.

Polyhydric alcohols useful herein include glycerin, sorbitol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, hexylene glycol ethoxylated glucose, 1,2-hexane diol, hexanetriol, dipropylene glycol, erythritol, trehalose, diglycerin, xylitol, maltitol, maltose, glucose, fructose, sodium chondroitin sulfate, sodium hyaluronate, sodium adenosine phosphate, sodium lactate, pyrrolidone carbonate, glucosamine, cyclodextrin, and mixtures thereof.

Water soluble alkoxylated nonionic polymers useful herein include polyethylene glycols and polypropylene glycols having a molecular weight of up to about 1000 such as PEG-200, PEG-400, PEG-600, PEG-1000 (CTFA names), and mixtures thereof.

39. Suspending Agent

The compositions of the present invention may further comprise a suspending agent, preferably at concentrations effective for suspending water-insoluble material in dispersed form in the compositions or for modifying the viscosity of the composition. Such concentrations can preferably range from about 0.1% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.3% to about 5.0%.

Suspending agents useful herein include anionic polymers and nonionic polymers. Useful herein are vinyl polymers such as cross linked acrylic acid polymers with the CTFA name Carbomer, cellulose derivatives and modified cellulose polymers such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, nitro cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, crystalline cellulose, cellulose powder, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, guar gum, hydroxypropyl guar gum, arabia gum, galactan, carob gum, pectin, agar, quince seed (Cyclonia oblonga Mill), starch (rice, corn, potato, wheat), algae colloids (algae extract), microbiological polymers such as dextran, succinoglucan, pulleran, starch-based polymers such as carboxymethyl starch, methylhydroxypropyl starch, alginic acid-based polymers such as sodium alginate, alginic acid propylene glycol esters, acrylate polymers such as sodium polyacrylate, polyethylacrylate, polyacrylamide, polyethyleneimine, and inorganic water soluble material such as bentonite, aluminum magnesium silicate, laponite, hectonite, and anhydrous silicic acid. Actives aforementioned as thickening agents can also be used herein as suspending agents.

Commercially available viscosity modifiers highly useful herein include Carbomers with tradenames Carbopol 934, Carbopol 940, Carbopol 950, Carbopol 980, and Carbopol 981, all available from B.F. Goodrich Company, acrylates/steareth-20 methacrylate copolymer with tradename ACRYSOL 22 available from Rohm and Hass, nonoxynyl hydroxyethylcellulose with tradename AMERCELL POLYMER HM-1500 available from Amerchol, methylcellulose with tradename BENECEL, hydroxyethyl cellulose with tradename NATROSOL, hydroxypropyl cellulose with tradename KLUCEL, cetyl hydroxyethyl cellulose with tradename POLYSURF 67, all supplied by Hercules, ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide based polymers with tradenames CARBOWAX PEGs, POLYOX WASRs, and UCON FLUIDS, all supplied by Amerchol.

Other optional suspending agents include crystalline suspending agents which can be categorized as acyl derivatives, long chain amine oxides, long chain acyl derivatives and mixtures thereof. These suspending agents are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,855. These preferred suspending agents include ethylene glycol esters of fatty acids, alkanol amides of fatty acids, long chain esters of long chain fatty acids (e.g., stearyl stearate, cetyl palmitate, etc.); long chain esters of long chain alkanol amides (e.g., stearamide diethanolamide distearate, stearamide monoethanolamide stearate); and glyceryl esters (e.g., glyceryl distearate, trihydroxystearin, tribehenin) a commercial example of which is Thixin® available from Rheox, Inc.

Other suitable suspending agents include primary amines having a fatty alkyl moiety having at least about 16 carbon atoms, examples of which include palmitamine or stearamine, and secondary amines having two fatty alkyl moieties each having at least about 12 carbon atoms, examples of which include dipalmitoylamine or di(hydrogenated tallow)amine. Still other suitable suspending agents include di(hydrogenated tallow)phthalic acid amide, and crosslinked maleic anhydride-methyl vinyl ether copolymer.

40. Terpene Alcohol

The compositions of the present invention may comprise a terpene alcohol or combinations of terpene alcohols. As used herein, “terpene alcohol” refers to organic compounds composed of two or more 5-carbon isoprene units [CH2═C(CH3)-CH═CH2] with a terminal hydroxyl group. Preferably, the composition can comprise from about 0.001% to about 50%, preferably from about 0.01% to about 20%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 15%, even more preferably from about 0.1% to about 10%, still more preferably from about 0.5% to about 5%, and still more preferably from about 1% to about 5%, by weight of the composition, of the terpene alcohol.

Examples of terpene alcohols that can be useful herein include farnesol, derivatives of farnesol, isomers of farnesol, geraniol, derivatives of geraniol, isomers of geraniol, phytantriol, derivatives of phytantriol, isomers of phytantriol, and mixtures thereof. A preferred terpene alcohol for use herein is farnesol.

a. Farnesol and Derivatives Thereof

Farnesol is a naturally occurring substance which is believed to act as a precursor and/or intermediate in the biosynthesis of squalene and sterols, especially cholesterol. Farnesol is also involved in protein modification and regulation (e.g., farnesylation of proteins), and there is a cell nuclear receptor which is responsive to farnesol.

Chemically, farnesol is [2E,6E]-3,7,11-trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrien-1-ol and as used herein “farnesol” includes isomers and tautomers of such. Farnesol is commercially available, e.g., under the names farnesol (a mixture of isomers from Dragoco) and trans-trans-farnesol (Sigma Chemical Company). A suitable derivative of farnesol is farnesyl acetate which is commercially available from Aldrich Chemical Company.

b. Geraniol and Derivatives Thereof

Geraniol is the common name for the chemical known as 3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-ol. As used herein, “geraniol” includes isomers and tautomers of such. Geraniol is commercially available from Aldrich Chemical Company. Suitable derivatives of geraniol include geranyl acetate, geranylgeraniol, geranyl pyrophosphate, and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, all of which are commercially available from Sigma Chemical Company. For example, geraniol is useful as a spider vessel/red blotchiness repair agent, a dark circle/puffy eye repair agent, sallowness repair agent, a sagging repair agent, an anti-itch agent, a skin thickening agent, a pore reduction agent, oiushine reduction agent, a post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation repair agent, wound treating agent, an anti-cellulite agent, and regulating skin texture, including wrinkles and fine lines.

c. Phytantriol and Derivatives Thereof

Phytantriol is the common name for the chemical known as 3,7,11,15 tetramethylhexadecane-1,2,3-triol. Phytantriol is commercially available from BASF. For example, phytantriol is useful as a spider vessel/red blotchiness repair agent, a dark circle/puffy eye repair agent, sallowness repair agent, a sagging repair agent, an anti-itch agent, a skin thickening agent, a pore reduction agent, oil/shine reduction agent, a post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation repair agent, wound treating agent, an anti-cellulite agent, and regulating skin texture, including wrinkles and fine lines.

41. Enzymes, Enzyme Inhibitors and Enzyme Activators (Coenzymes)

The compositions of the present invention may contain a safe and effective amount of one or more enzymes, enzyme inhibitors or enzyme activators (coenzymes). Examples of enzymes are lipases, proteases, catalase, superoxide-dismutase, amylases, glucuronidases, peroxidases, in particular glutathione peroxidase or lactoperoxidase, ceramidases, hyaluronidases. All of these enzymes may be obtained by extraction or by fermentation biotechnology processes. Examples of enzyme inhibitors include trypsine inhibitors, Bowmann Birk inhibitor, chymotrypsin inhibitors, botanical extracts with or without tannins, flavonoids, quercetin which inhibit enzymatic activity. Enzyme preparations can be found, for instance, in the product named VENUCEANE proposed by SEDERMA, France (WO 02/066668). Enzyme activators and coenzymes include Coenzyme A, coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone), glycyrrhizidine, berberine, chrysine.

II CARRIER

The compositions of the present invention can comprise an orally or a dermatologically acceptable carrier, or injectible liquid, depending upon the desired product form.

A. Dermatologically Acceptable Carrier

The topical compositions of the present invention can also comprise a dermatologically acceptable carrier for the composition. In one embodiment, the carrier is present at a level of from about 50% to about 99.99%, preferably from about 60% to about 99.9%, more preferably from about 70% to about 98%, and even more preferably from about 80% to about 95%, by weight of the composition.

The carrier can be in a wide variety of forms. Non-limiting examples include simple solutions (water or oil based), emulsions, and solid forms (gels, sticks). For example, emulsion carriers can include, but are not limited to, oil-in-water, water-in-oil, water-in-silicone, water-in-oil-in-water, and oil-in-water-in-silicone emulsions.

Depending upon the desired product form, preferred carriers can comprise an emulsion such as oil-in-water emulsions (e.g., silicone in water) and water-in-oil emulsions, (e.g., water-in-silicone emulsions). As will be understood by the skilled artisan, a given component will distribute primarily into either the water or oil phase, depending on the water solubility/dispensability of the component in the composition. In one embodiment, oil-in-water emulsions are especially preferred.

Emulsions according to the present invention can contain an aqueous phase and a lipid or oil. Lipids and oils may be derived from animals, plants, or petroleum and may be natural or synthetic (i.e., man-made). Preferred emulsions can also contain a humectant, such as glycerin. Emulsions can further comprise from about 0.1% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.2% to about 5%, of an emulsifier, based on the weight of the composition. Emulsifiers may be nonionic, anionic or cationic. Suitable emulsifiers are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,755,560, U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,769, and McCutcheon's Detergents and Emulsifiers, North American Edition, pages 317-324 (1986). Suitable emulsions may have a wide range of viscosities, depending on the desired product form.

The compositions of the present invention can be in the form of pourable liquids (under ambient conditions). The compositions can therefore comprise an aqueous carrier, which is typically present at a level of from about 20% to about 95%, preferably from about 60% to about 85%. The aqueous carrier may comprise water, or a miscible mixture of water and organic solvent, but preferably comprises water with minimal or no significant concentrations of organic solvent, except as otherwise incidentally incorporated into the composition as minor ingredients of other essential or optional components.

The emulsion may also contain an anti-foaming agent to minimize foaming upon application to the keratinous tissue. Anti-foaming agents include high molecular weight silicones and other materials well known in the art for such use. Preferred water-in-silicone and oil-in-water emulsions are described in greater detail below.

1. Water-in-Silicone Emulsion

Water-in-silicone emulsions can contain a continuous silicone phase and a dispersed aqueous phase.

a. Continuous Silicone Phase

Preferred water-in-silicone emulsions of the present invention can contain from about 1% to about 60%, preferably from about 5% to about 40%, more preferably from about 10% to about 20%, by weight of a continuous silicone phase. The continuous silicone phase exists as an external phase that contains or surrounds the discontinuous aqueous phase described hereinafter.

The continuous silicone phase contains a polyorganosiloxane oil. A preferred water-in-silicone emulsion system is formulated to provide an oxidatively stable vehicle for the active ingredients of the present invention. The continuous silicone phase of these preferred emulsions contain between about 50% and about 99.9% by weight of organopolysiloxane oil and less than about 50% by weight of a non-silicone oil. In an especially preferred embodiment, the continuous silicone phase contains at least about 50%, preferably from about 60% to about 99.9%, more preferably from about 70% to about 99.9%, and even more preferably from about 80% to about 99.9%, polyorganosiloxane oil by weight of the continuous silicone phase, and up to about 50% non-silicone oils, preferably less about 40%, more preferably less than about 30%, even more preferably less than about 10%, and even more preferably less than about 2%, by weight of the continuous silicone phase.

The organopolysiloxane oil for use in the composition may be volatile, non-volatile, or a mixture of volatile and non-volatile silicones. The term “nonvolatile” as used in this context refers to those silicones that are liquid under ambient conditions and have a flash point (under one atmospheric of pressure) of or greater than about 100° C. The term “volatile” as used in this context refers to all other silicone oils. Suitable organopolysiloxanes can be selected from a wide variety of silicones spanning a broad range of volatilities and viscosities. Examples of suitable organopolysiloxane oils include polyalkylsiloxanes, cyclic polyalkylsiloxanes, and polyalkylarylsiloxanes.

Polyalkylsiloxanes useful in the composition herein include polyalkylsiloxanes with viscosities of from about 0.5 to about 1,000,000 centistokes at 25° C. Commercially available polyalkylsiloxanes include the polydimethylsiloxanes, which are also known as dimethicones, examples of which include the Vicasil® series sold by General Electric Company and the Dow Corning® 200 series sold by Dow Corning Corporation. Specific examples of suitable polydimethylsiloxanes include Dow Corning® 200 fluid, Dow Corning® 225 fluid, and Dow Corning® 200 fluids Examples of suitable alkyl-substituted dimethicones include cetyl dimethicone and lauryl dimethicone.

Cyclic polyalkylsiloxanes suitable for use in the composition include commercially available cyclomethicones such as Dow Corning® 244 fluid, Dow Corning® 344 fluid, Dow Corning® 245 fluid and Dow Corning® 345 fluid.

Also useful are materials such as trimethylsiloxysilicate. A commercially available trimethylsiloxysilicate is sold as a mixture with dimethicone as Dow Corning® 593 fluid. Dimethiconols are also suitable for use in the composition. Commercially available dimethiconols are typically sold as mixtures with dimethicone or cyclomethicone (e.g. Dow Corning® 1401, 1402, and 1403 fluids).

Polyalkylaryl siloxanes are also suitable for use in the composition. Polymethylphenyl siloxanes having viscosities from about 15 to about 65 centistokes at 25° C. are especially useful.

Preferred for use herein are organopolysiloxanes selected from polyalkylsiloxanes, alkyl substituted dimethicones, cyclomethicones, trimethylsiloxysilicates, dimethiconols, polyalkylaryl siloxanes, and mixtures thereof. More preferred for use herein are polyalkylsiloxanes and cyclomethicones. Preferred among the polyalkylsiloxanes are dimethicones.

As stated above, the continuous silicone phase may contain one or more non-silicone oils. Suitable non-silicone oils have a melting point of about 25° C. or less under about one atmosphere of pressure. Examples of non-silicone oils suitable for use in the continuous silicone phase are those well known in the chemical arts in topical personal care products in the form of water-in-oil emulsions, e.g., mineral oil, vegetable oils, synthetic oils, semisynthetic oils, etc.

b. Dispersed Aqueous Phase

The topical compositions of the present invention can contain from about 30% to about 90%, more preferably from about 50% to about 85%, and still more preferably from about 70% to about 80% of a dispersed aqueous phase. In emulsion technology, the term “dispersed phase” is a term well-known to one skilled in the art which means that the phase exists as small particles or droplets that are suspended in and surrounded by a continuous phase. The dispersed phase is also known as the internal or discontinuous phase. The dispersed aqueous phase is a dispersion of small aqueous particles or droplets suspended in and surrounded by the continuous silicone phase described hereinbefore.

The aqueous phase can be water, or a combination of water and one or more water soluble or dispersible ingredients. Nonlimiting examples of such ingredients include thickeners, acids, bases, salts, chelating ingredients, gums, water-soluble or dispersible alcohols and polyols, buffers, preservatives, sunscreening agents, colorings, and the like.

The topical compositions of the present invention will typically contain from about 25% to about 90%, preferably from about 40% to about 80%, more preferably from about 60% to about 80%, water in the dispersed aqueous phase by weight of the composition.

c. Emulsifier for Dispersing the Aqueous Phase

The water-in-silicone emulsions of the present invention may preferably contain an emulsifier. In a preferred embodiment, the composition contains from about 0.1% to about 10% emulsifier, more preferably from about 0.5% to about 7.5%, still more preferably from about 1% to about 5%, emulsifier by weight of the composition. The emulsifier helps disperse and suspend the aqueous phase within the continuous silicone phase.

A wide variety of emulsifying agents can be employed herein to form the preferred water-in-silicone emulsion. Known or conventional emulsifying agents can be used in the composition, provided that the selected emulsifying agent is chemically and physically compatible with components of the composition of the present invention, and provides the desired dispersion characteristics. Suitable emulsifiers include silicone emulsifiers, non-silicon-containing emulsifiers, and mixtures thereof, known by those skilled in the art for use in topical personal care products. Preferably these emulsifiers have an HLB value of or less than about 14, more preferably from about 2 to about 14, and still more preferably from about 4 to about 14. Emulsifiers having an HLB value outside of these ranges can be used in combination with other emulsifiers to achieve an effective weighted average HLB for the combination that falls within these ranges.

Silicone emulsifiers are preferred. A wide variety of silicone emulsifiers are useful herein. These silicone emulsifiers are typically organically modified organopolysiloxanes, also known to those skilled in the art as silicone surfactants. Useful silicone emulsifiers include dimethicone copolyols. These materials are polydimethyl siloxanes which have been modified to include polyether side chains such as polyethylene oxide chains, polypropylene oxide chains, mixtures of these chains, and polyether chains containing moieties derived from both ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. Other examples include alkyl-modified dimethicone copolyols, i.e., compounds which contain C2-C30 pendant side chains. Still other useful dimethicone copolyols include materials having various cationic, anionic, amphoteric, and zwitterionic pendant moieties.

Nonlimiting examples of dimethicone copolyols and other silicone surfactants useful as emulsifiers herein include polydimethylsiloxane polyether copolymers with pendant polyethylene oxide side chains, polydimethylsiloxane polyether copolymers with pendant polypropylene oxide side chains, polydimethylsiloxane polyether copolymers with pendant mixed polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide side chains, polydimethylsiloxane polyether copolymers with pendant mixed poly(ethylene)(propylene)oxide side chains, polydimethylsiloxane polyether copolymers with pendant organobetaine sidechains, polydimethylsiloxane polyether copolymers with pendant carboxylate sidechains, polydimethylsiloxane polyether copolymers with pendant quaternary ammonium sidechains; and also further modifications of the preceding copolymers containing pendant C2-C30 straight, branched, or cyclic alkyl moieties. Examples of commercially available dimethicone copolyols useful herein sold by Dow Corning Corporation are Dow Corning® 190, 193, Q2-5220, 2501 Wax, 2-5324 fluid, and 3225C (this later material being sold as a mixture with cyclomethicone). Cetyl dimethicone copolyol is commercially available as a mixture with polyglyceryl-4 isostearate (and) hexyl laurate and is sold under the tradename ABIL® WE-09 (available from Goldschmidt). Cetyl dimethicone copolyol is also commercially available as a mixture with hexyl laurate (and) polyglyceryl-3 oleate (and) cetyl dimethicone and is sold under the tradename ABIL® WS-08 (also available from Goldschmidt). Other nonlimiting examples of dimethicone copolyols also include lauryl dimethicone copolyol, dimethicone copolyol acetate, dimethicone copolyol adipate, dimethicone copolyolamine, dimethicone copolyol behenate, dimethicone copolyol butyl ether, dimethicone copolyol hydroxy stearate, dimethicone copolyol isostearate, dimethicone copolyol laurate, dimethicone copolyol methyl ether, dimethicone copolyol phosphate, and dimethicone copolyol stearate.

Dimethicone copolyol emulsifiers useful herein are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,764, EP 330,369. Among the non-silicone-containing emulsifiers useful herein are various non-ionic and anionic emulsifying agents such as sugar esters and polyesters, alkoxylated sugar esters and polyesters, C1-C30 fatty acid esters of C1-C30 fatty alcohols, alkoxylated derivatives of C1-C30 fatty acid esters of C1-C30 fatty alcohols, alkoxylated ethers of C1-C30 fatty alcohols, polyglyceryl esters of C1-C30 fatty acids, C1-C30 esters of polyols, C1-C30 ethers of polyols, alkyl phosphates, polyoxyaukylene fatty ether phosphates, fatty acid amides, acyl lactylates, soaps, and mixtures thereof. Other suitable emulsifiers are described, for example, in McCutcheon's, Detergents and Emulsifiers, North American Edition (1986), published by Allured Publishing Corporation; U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,681; U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,769; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,755,560.

Nonlimiting examples of these non-silicon-containing emulsifiers include: polyethylene glycol 20 sorbitan monolaurate (Polysorbate 20), polyethylene glycol 5 soya sterol, Steareth-20, Ceteareth-20, PPG-2 methyl glucose ether distearate, Ceteth-10, Polysorbate 80, cetyl phosphate, potassium cetyl phosphate, diethanolamine cetyl phosphate, Polysorbate 60, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan trioleate (Polysorbate 85), sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene 4 lauryl ether sodium stearate, polyglyceryl-4 isostearate, hexyl laurate, steareth-20, ceteareth-20, PPG-2 methyl glucose ether distearate, ceteth-10, diethanolamine cetyl phosphate, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, and mixtures thereof.

d. Silicone Elastomer

The compositions of the present invention may also include from about 0.1% to about 30%, by weight of the composition, of a silicone elastomer component. Preferably, the composition includes from about 1% to about 30%, more preferably from about 2% to about 20%, by weight of the composition, of the silicone elastomer component.

Suitable for use herein are silicone elastomers, which can be emulsifying or non-emulsifying crosslinked siloxane elastomers or mixtures thereof. No specific restriction exists as to the type of curable organopolysiloxane composition that can serve as starting material for the crosslinked organopolysiloxane elastomer. Examples in this respect are addition reaction-curing organopolysiloxane compositions which cure under platinum metal catalysis by the addition reaction between SiH-containing diorganopolysiloxane and organopolysiloxane having silicon-bonded vinyl groups; condensation-curing organopolysiloxane compositions which cure in the presence of an organotin compound by a dehydrogenation reaction between hydroxyl-terminated diorganopolysiloxane and SiH-containing diorganopolysiloxane and condensation-curing organopolysiloxane compositions which cure in the presence of an organotin compound or a titanate ester.

Addition reaction-curing organopolysiloxane compositions are preferred for their rapid curing rates and excellent uniformity of curing. A particularly preferred addition reaction-curing organopolysiloxane composition is prepared from: a) an organopolysiloxane having at least 2 lower alkenyl groups in each molecule; b) an organopolysiloxane having at least 2 silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in each molecule; and c) a platinum-type catalyst.

The compositions of the present invention may include an emulsifying crosslinked organopolysiloxane elastomer, a non-emulsifying crosslinked organopolysiloxane elastomer, or a mixture thereof. The term “non-emulsifying,” as used herein, defines crosslinked organopolysiloxane elastomers from which polyoxyalkylene units are absent. The term “emulsifying,” as used herein, means crosslinked organopolysiloxane elastomers having at least one polyoxyalkylene (e.g., polyoxyethylene or polyoxypropylene) unit. Preferred emulsifying elastomers herein include polyoxyalkylene modified elastomers formed from divinyl compounds, particularly siloxane polymers with at least two free vinyl groups, reacting with Si—H linkages on a polysiloxane backbone. Preferably, the elastomers are dimethyl polysiloxanes crosslinked by Si—H sites on a molecularly spherical MQ resin. Emulsifying crosslinked organopolysiloxane elastomers can notably be chosen from the crosslinked polymers described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,412,004, 5,837,793, and 5,811,487. In addition, an emulsifying elastomer comprised of dimethicone copolyol crosspolymer (and) dimethicone is available from Shin Etsu under the tradename KSG-21. Advantageously, the non-emulsifying elastomers are dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymers. Such dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymers are supplied by a variety of suppliers including Dow Corning (DC 9040 and DC 9041), General Electric (SFE 839), Shin Etsu (KSG-15, 16, 18 [dimethicone/phenyl vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer]), and Grant Industries (GRANSIL™ line of elastomers). Cross-linked organopolysiloxane elastomers useful in the present invention and processes for making them are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,252, U.S. Pat. No. 5,760,116, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,654,362.

Commercially available elastomers preferred for use herein are Dow Corning's 9040 silicone elastomer blend, Shin Etsu's KSG-21, and mixtures thereof.

e. Carrier for Silicone Elastomer

The topical compositions of the present invention may include from about 1% to about 80%, by weight of the composition, of a suitable carrier for the for the crosslinked organopolysiloxane elastomer component described above. The carrier, when combined with the cross-linked organopolysiloxane elastomer particles of the present invention, serves to suspend and swell the elastomer particles to provide an elastic, gel-like network or matrix. The carrier for the cross-linked siloxane elastomer is liquid under ambient conditions, and preferably has a low viscosity to provide for improved spreading on the skin.

Concentrations of the carrier in the cosmetic compositions of the present invention will vary primarily with the type and amount of carrier and the cross-linked siloxane elastomer employed. Preferred concentrations of the carrier are from about 5% to about 50%, more preferably from about 5% to about 40%, by weight of the composition.

The carrier for the cross-linked siloxane elastomer includes one or more liquid carriers suitable for topical application to human skin. These liquid carriers may be organic, silicone-containing or fluorine-containing, volatile or non-volatile, polar or non-polar, provided that the liquid carrier forms a solution or other homogenous liquid or liquid dispersion with the selected cross-linked siloxane elastomer at the selected siloxane elastomer concentration at a temperature of from about 28° C. to about 250° C., preferably from about 28° C. to about 100° C., preferably from about 28° C. to about 78° C. The term “volatile” as used herein refers to all materials that are not “non-volatile” as previously defined herein. The phrase “relatively polar” as used herein means more polar than another material in terms of solubility parameter; i.e., the higher the solubility parameter the more polar the liquid. The term “non-polar” typically means that the material has a solubility parameter below about 6.5 (cal/cm3>) 05.

f. Non-Polar, Volatile Oils

The composition of the present invention may include non-polar, volatile oils. The non-polar, volatile oil tends to impart highly desirable aesthetic properties to the compositions of the present invention. Consequently, the non-polar, volatile oils are preferably utilized at a fairly high level. Non-polar, volatile oils particularly useful in the present invention are silicone oils; hydrocarbons; and mixtures thereof. Such non-polar, volatile oils are disclosed, for example, in Cosmetics, Science, and Technology, Vol. 1, 27-104 edited by Balsam and Sagarin, 1972. Examples of preferred non-polar, volatile hydrocarbons include polydecanes such as isododecane and isodecane (e.g., Permethyl-99A which is available from Presperse Inc.) and the C7-C8 through C12-C15 isoparaffins (such as the Isopar Series available from Exxon Chemicals). Linear volatile silicones generally have a viscosity of less than about 5 centistokes at 25° C., whereas the cyclic silicones have viscosities of less than about 10 centistokes at 25° C. Highly preferred examples of volatile silicone oils include cyclomethicones of varying viscosities, e.g., Dow Corning 200, Dow Corning 244, Dow Corning 245, Dow Corning 344, and Dow Corning 345, (commercially available from Dow Corning Corp.); SF-1204 and SF-1202 Silicone Fluids (commercially available from G.E. Silicones), GE 7207 and 7158 (commercially available from General Electric Co.); and SWS-03314 (commercially available from SWS Silicones Corp.).

g. Relatively Polar, Non-Volatile Oils

The composition of the present invention may include relatively polar, non-volatile oils. The non-volatile oil is “relatively polar” as compared to the non-polar, volatile oil discussed above. Therefore, the non-volatile co-carrier is more polar (i.e., has a higher solubility parameter) than at least one of the non-polar, volatile oils. Relatively polar, non-volatile oils potentially useful in the present invention are disclosed, for example, in Cosmetics, Science, and Technology, Vol. 1, 27-104 edited by Balsam and Sagarin, 1972; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,202,879 and 4,816,261. Relatively polar, non-volatile oils useful in the present invention are preferably selected from silicone oils; hydrocarbon oils; fatty alcohols; fatty acids; esters of mono and dibasic carboxylic acids with mono and polyhydric alcohols; polyoxyethylenes; polyoxypropylenes; mixtures of polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene ethers of fatty alcohols; and mixtures thereof.

h. Non-Polar, Non-Volatile Oils

In addition to the liquids discussed above, the carrier for the cross-linked siloxane elastomer may optionally include non-volatile, non-polar oils. Typical non-volatile, non-polar emollients are disclosed, for example, in Cosmetics, Science, and Technology, Vol. 1, 27-104 edited by Balsam and Sagarin, 1972; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,202,879 and 4,816,261. The non-volatile oils useful in the present invention are essentially non-volatile polysiloxanes, paraffinic hydrocarbon oils, and mixtures thereof.

2. Oil-in-Water Emulsions

Other preferred topical carriers include oil-in-water emulsions, having a continuous aqueous phase and a hydrophobic, water-insoluble phase (“oil phase”) dispersed therein. The “oil phase” can contain oil, silicone or mixtures thereof, and includes but is not limited to the oils and silicones described above in the section on water-in-oil emulsions. The distinction of whether the emulsion is characterized as an oil-in-water or silicone-in-water emulsions is a function of whether the oil phase is composed of primarily oil or silicone. The water phase of these emulsions consists primarily of water, but can also contain various other ingredients such as those water phase ingredients listed in the above section on water-in-oil emulsion. The preferred oil-in-water emulsions comprises from about 25% to about 98%, preferably from about 65% to about 95%, more preferably from about 70% to about 90% water by weight of the total composition.

In addition to a continuous water phase and dispersed oil or silicone phase, these oil-in-water compositions also comprise an emulsifier to stabilize the emulsion. Emulsifiers useful herein are well known in the art, and include nonionic, anionic, cationic, and amphoteric emulsifiers. Non-limiting examples of emulsifiers useful in the oil-in-water emulsions of this invention are given in McCutcheon's, Detergents and Emulsifiers, North American Edition (1986), U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,681; U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,769; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,755,560. Examples of suitable oil-in-water emulsion carriers are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,371, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,372. An especially preferred oil-in-water emulsion, containing a structuring agent, hydrophilic surfactant and water, is described in detail hereinafter.

a. Structuring Agent

A preferred oil-in-water emulsion contains a structuring agent to assist in the formation of a liquid crystalline gel network structure. Without being limited by theory, it is believed that the structuring agent assists in providing Theological characteristics to the composition which contribute to the stability of the composition. The structuring agent may also function as an emulsifier or surfactant. Preferred compositions of this invention contain from about 0.5% to about 20%, more preferably from about 1% to about 10%, even more preferably from about 1% to about 5%, by weight of the composition, of a structuring agent.

The preferred structuring agents of the present invention include stearic acid, palmitic acid, stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, the polyethylene glycol ether of stearyl alcohol having an average of about 1 to about 21 ethylene oxide units, the polyethylene glycol ether of cetyl alcohol having an average of about 1 to about 5 ethylene oxide units, and mixtures thereof. More preferred structuring agents of the present invention are selected from stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, the polyethylene glycol ether of stearyl alcohol having an average of about 2 ethylene oxide units (steareth-2), the polyethylene glycol ether of stearyl alcohol having an average of about 21 ethylene oxide units (steareth-21), the polyethylene glycol ether of cetyl alcohol having an average of about 2 ethylene oxide units, and mixtures thereof. Even more preferred structuring agents are selected from stearic acid, palmitic acid, stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, steareth-2, steareth-21, and mixtures thereof.

b. Hydrophilic Surfactant

The preferred oil-in-water emulsions contain from about 0.05% to about 10%, preferably from about 1% to about 6%, and more preferably from about 1% to about 3% of at least one hydrophilic surfactant which can disperse the hydrophobic materials in the water phase (percentages by weight of the topical carrier). The surfactant, at a minimum, must be hydrophilic enough to disperse in water.

Preferred hydrophilic surfactants are selected from nonionic surfactants. Among the nonionic surfactants that are useful herein are those that can be broadly defined as condensation products of long chain alcohols, e.g. C8-30 alcohols, with sugar or starch polymers, i.e., glycosides. These compounds can be represented by the formula (S)n-O—R wherein S is a sugar moiety such as glucose, fructose, mannose, and galactose; n is an integer of from about 1 to about 1000, and R is a C8-30 alkyl group. Examples of long chain alcohols from which the alkyl group can be derived include decyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, and the like. Preferred examples of these surfactants include those wherein S is a glucose moiety, R is a C8-20 alkyl group, and n is an integer of from about 1 to about 9. Commercially available examples of these surfactants include decyl polyglucoside (available as APG 325 CS from Henkel) and lauryl polyglucoside (available as APG 600 CS and 625 CS from Henkel).

Other useful nonionic surfactants include the condensation products of alkylene oxides with fatty acids (i.e. alkylene oxide esters of fatty acids), the condensation products of alkylene oxides with 2 moles of fatty acids (i.e. alkylene oxide diesters of fatty acids), the condensation products of alkylene oxides with fatty alcohols (i.e. alkylene oxide ethers of fatty alcohols), the condensation products of alkylene oxides with both fatty acids and fatty alcohols [i.e. wherein the polyalkylene oxide portion is esterified on one end with a fatty acid and etherified (i.e. connected via an ether linkage) on the other end with a fatty alcohol]. Nonlimiting examples of these alkylene oxide derived nonionic surfactants include ceteth-6, ceteth-10, ceteth-12, ceteareth-6, ceteareth-10, ceteareth-12, steareth-6, steareth-10, steareth-12, steareth-21, PEG-6 stearate, PEG-10 stearate, PEG-100 stearate, PEG-12 stearate, PEG-20 glyceryl stearate, PEG-80 glyceryl tallowate, PEG-10 glyceryl stearate, PEG-30 glyceryl cocoate, PEG-80 glyceryl cocoate, PEG-200 glyceryl tallowate, PEG-8 dilaurate, PEG-10 distearate, and mixtures thereof.

Still other useful nonionic surfactants include polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants. An especially preferred surfactant corresponding to the above structure is coconut alkyl N-methyl glucoside amide. Processes for making compositions containing polyhydroxy fatty acid amides are disclosed, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 2,965,576; U.S. Pat. No. 2,703,798, and U.S. Pat. No. 1,985,424.

Preferred among the nonionic surfactants are those selected from the group consisting of steareth-21, ceteareth-20, ceteareth-12, sucrose cocoate, steareth-100, PEG-100 stearate, and mixtures thereof.

Other nonionic surfactants suitable for use herein include sugar esters and polyesters, alkoxylated sugar esters and polyesters, C1-C30 fatty acid esters of C1-C30 fatty alcohols, alkoxylated derivatives of C1-C30 fatty acid esters of C1-C30 fatty alcohols, alkoxylated ethers of C1-C30 fatty alcohols, polyglyceryl esters of C1-C30 fatty acids, C1-C30 esters of polyols, C1-C30 ethers of polyols, alkyl phosphates, polyoxyalkylene fatty ether phosphates, fatty acid amides, acyl lactylates, and mixtures thereof. Nonlimiting examples of these emulsifiers include: polyethylene glycol 20 sorbitan monolaurate (Polysorbate 20), polyethylene glycol 5 soya sterol, Steareth-20, Ceteareth-20, PPG-2 methyl glucose ether distearate, Ceteth-10, Polysorbate 80, cetyl phosphate, potassium cetyl phosphate, diethanolamine cetyl phosphate, Polysorbate 60, glyceryl stearate, polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan trioleate (Polysorbate 85), sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene 4 lauryl ether sodium stearate, polyglyceryl-4 isostearate, hexyl laurate, PPG-2 methyl glucose ether distearate, PEG-100 stearate, and mixtures thereof.

Another group of non-ionic surfactants useful herein are fatty acid ester blends based on a mixture of sorbitan or sorbitol fatty acid ester and sucrose fatty acid ester, the fatty acid in each instance being preferably C8-C24, more preferably C10-C20. The preferred fatty acid ester emulsifier is a blend of sorbitan or sorbitol C16-C20 fatty acid ester with sucrose C10-C16 fatty acid ester, especially sorbitan stearate and sucrose cocoate. This is commercially available from ICI under the tradename Arlatone 2121.

Other suitable surfactants useful herein include a wide variety of cationic, anionic, zwitterionic, and amphoteric surfactants such as are known in the art and discussed more fully below. The hydrophilic surfactants useful herein can contain a single surfactant, or any combination of suitable surfactants. The exact surfactant (or surfactants) chosen will depend upon the pH of the composition and the other components present.

Also useful herein are cationic surfactants, especially dialkyl quaternary ammonium compounds, examples of which are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,209; U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,210; U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,532; U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,090; U.S. Pat. No. 3,155,591; U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678; U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,461; McCutcheon's, Detergents & Emulsifiers, (North American edition 1979) M.C. Publishing Co.; and Schwartz, et al., Surface Active Agents, Their Chemistry and Technology, New York: Interscience Publishers, 1949.

Nonlimiting examples of these cationic emulsifiers include cetearyl olivate, sorbitan olivate, stearamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, behenamidopropyl PG dimonium chloride, stearamidopropyl ethyldimonium ethosulfate, stearamidopropyl dimethyl (myristyl acetate) ammonium chloride, stearamidopropyl dimethyl cetearyl ammonium tosylate, stearamidopropyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, stearamidopropyl dimethyl ammonium lactate, and mixtures thereof. Especially preferred is behenamidopropyl PG dimonium chloride.

Nonlimiting examples of quaternary ammonium salt cationic surfactants include those selected from cetyl ammonium chloride, cetyl ammonium bromide, lauryl ammonium chloride, lauryl ammonium bromide, stearyl ammonium chloride, stearyl ammonium bromide, cetyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, cetyl dimethyl ammonium bromide, lauryl dimethyl ammonium chloride, lauryl dimethyl ammonium bromide, stearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, stearyl dimethyl ammonium bromide, cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, lauryl trimethyl ammonium chloride, lauryl trimethyl ammonium bromide, stearyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, stearyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, lauryl dimethyl ammonium chloride, stearyl dimethyl cetyl ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride, dicetyl ammonium chloride, dicetyl ammonium bromide, dilauryl ammonium chloride, dilauryl ammonium bromide, distearyl ammonium chloride, distearyl ammonium bromide, dicetyl methyl ammonium chloride, dicetyl methyl ammonium bromide, dilauryl methyl ammonium chloride, dilauryl methyl ammonium bromide, distearyl methyl ammonium chloride, distearyl methyl ammonium bromide, and mixtures thereof. Additional quaternary ammonium salts include those wherein the C12 to C30 alkyl carbon chain is derived from a tallow fatty acid or from a coconut fatty acid. The term “tallow” refers to an alkyl group derived from tallow fatty acids (usually hydrogenated tallow fatty acids), which generally have mixtures of alkyl chains in the C16 to C18 range. The term “coconut” refers to an alkyl group derived from a coconut fatty acid, which generally have mixtures of alkyl chains in the C12 to C14 range. Examples of quaternary ammonium salts derived from these tallow and coconut sources include ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride, ditallow dimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate, di(hydrogenated tallow) dimethyl ammonium chloride, di(hydrogenated tallow) dimethyl ammonium acetate, ditallow dipropyl ammonium phosphate, ditallow dimethyl ammonium nitrate, di(coconutalkyl)dimethyl ammonium chloride, di(coconutalkyl)dimethyl ammonium bromide, tallow ammonium chloride, coconut ammonium chloride, and mixtures thereof. An example of a quaternary ammonium compound having an alkyl group with an ester linkage is ditallowyl oxyethyl dimethyl ammonium chloride.

More preferred cationic surfactants are those selected from behenamidopropyl PG dimonium chloride, dilauryl dimethyl ammonium chloride, distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dimyristyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dipalmityl dimethyl ammonium chloride, distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, stearamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, stearamidopropyl ethyldiammonium ethosulfate, stearamidopropyl dimethyl (myristyl acetate) ammonium chloride, stearamidopropyl dimethyl cetearyl ammonium tosylate, stearamidopropyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, stearamidopropyl dimethyl ammonium lactate, and mixtures thereof.

Still more preferred cationic surfactants are those selected from behenamidopropyl PG dimonium chloride, dilauryl dimethyl ammonium chloride, distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dimyristyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dipalmityl dimethyl ammonium chloride, and mixtures thereof.

A preferred combination of cationic surfactant and structuring agent is behenamidopropyl PG dimonium chloride and/or behenyl alcohol, wherein the ratio is preferably optimized to maintain to enhance physical and chemical stability, especially when such a combination contains ionic and/or highly polar solvents.

A wide variety of anionic surfactants can also be useful herein. Nonlimiting examples of anionic surfactants include the alkoyl isethionates, and the alkyl and alkyl ether sulfates. The reaction products of fatty acids esterified with isethianonic acid and neutralized, i.e. the alkoyl isethionates typically have the formula RCO—OCH₂CH₂SO₃M wherein R is alkyl or alkenyl of from about 10 to about 30 carbon atoms, and M is a water-soluble cation such as ammonium, sodium, potassium and triethanolamine. For example, the fatty acids are derivated from coconut or palm kernel oil. Nonlimiting examples of these isethionates include those alkoyl isethionates selected from ammonium cocoyl isethionate, sodium cocoyl isethionate, sodium lauroyl isethionate, sodium stearoyl isethionate, and mixtures thereof. Also suitable are salts of fatty acids, amids of methyl taurides. Other similar anionic surfactants are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,486,921; 2,486,922 and 2,396,278.

The alkyl and alkyl ether sulfates typically have the respective formulae ROSO₃M and RO(C2H₄O)xSO₃M, wherein R is alkyl or alkenyl of from about 10 to about 30 carbon atoms, x is from about 1 to about 10, and M is a water-soluble cation such as ammonium, alkanolamines such as triethanolamine, monovalent metals, such as sodium and potassium, and polyvalent metal cations such as magnesium and calcium. Preferably, R has from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms, even more preferably from about 12 to about 14 carbon atoms, in both the alkyl and alkyl ether sulfates. The alkyl ether sulfates are typically made as condensation products of ethylene oxide and monohydric alcohols having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms. The alcohols can be synthetic or they can be derived from fats, e.g., coconut oil, palm kernel oil, tallow. Lauryl alcohol and straight chain alcohols derived from coconut oil or palm kernel oil are preferred. Such alcohols are reacted with between about 0 and about 10, preferably from about 2 to about 5, more preferably about 3, molar proportions of ethylene oxide, and the resulting mixture of molecular species having, for example, an average of 3 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, is sulfated and neutralized

Another suitable class of anionic surfactants are the water-soluble salts of the organic, sulfuric acid reaction products of the general formula: R1-SO₃-M wherein R1 is chosen from the group including a straight or branched chain, saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from about 8 to about 24, preferably about 10 to about 16, carbon atoms; and M is a cation described hereinbefore. Still other anionic synthetic surfactants include the class designated as succinamates, olefin sulfonates having about 12 to about 24 carbon atoms, and β-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates. Examples of these materials are sodium lauryl sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate. Other anionic surfactants suitable for use in the compositions are the succinnates, examples of which include disodium N-octadecylsulfosuccinnate; disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate; diammonium lauryl sulfosuccinate; tetrasodium N-(1,2-dicarboxyethyl)-N-octadecylsulfosuccinnate; diamyl ester of sodium sulfosuccinic acid; dihexyl ester of sodium sulfosuccinic acid; and dioctyl esters of sodium sulfosuccinic acid. Other suitable anionic surfactants include olefin sulfonates having about 10 to about 24 carbon atoms. In addition to the true alkene sulfonates and a proportion of hydroxy-alkanesulfonates, the olefin sulfonates can contain minor amounts of other materials, such as alkene disulfonates depending upon the reaction conditions, proportion of reactants, the nature of the starting olefins and impurities in the olefin stock and side reactions during the sulfonation process. A non limiting example of such an alpha-olefin sulfonate mixture is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,332,880.

Another class of anionic surfactants suitable for use in the compositions are the beta-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates. These surfactants conform to the formula

where R1 is a straight chain alkyl group having from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, R2 is a lower alkyl group having from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, preferably 1 carbon atom, and M is a water-soluble cation as described hereinbefore. Other anionic materials useful herein are soaps (i.e. alkali metal salts, e.g., sodium or potassium salts) of fatty acids, typically having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, preferably from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms. The fatty acids used in making the soaps can be obtained from natural sources such as, for instance, plant or animal-derived glycerides (e.g., palm oil, coconut oil, soybean oil, castor oil, tallow, lard, etc.) The fatty acids can also be synthetically prepared. Soaps are described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,853.

Amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants are also useful herein. Examples of amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants which can be used in the compositions of the present invention are those which are broadly described as derivatives of aliphatic secondary and tertiary amines in which the aliphatic radical can be straight or branched chain and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms (preferably C8-C18) and one contains an anionic water solubilizing group, e.g., carboxy, sulfonate, sulfate, phosphate, or phosphonate. Examples are alkyl imino acetates, and iminodialkanoates and aminoalkanoates of the formulas RN[CH₂)mCO₂M]₂ and RNH(CH₂)mCO₂M wherein m is from 1 to 4, R is a C8-C22 alkyl or alkenyl, and M is H, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal ammonium, or alkanolammonium. Preferred amphoteric surfactants for use in the present invention include cocoamphoacetate, cocoamphodiacetate, lauroamphoacetate, lauroamphodiacetate, and mixtures thereof. Also included are imidazolinium and ammonium derivatives. Specific examples of suitable amphoteric surfactants include sodium 3-dodecyl-aminopropionate, sodium 3-dodecylaminopropane sulfonate, N-alkyltaurines such as the one prepared by reacting dodecylamine with sodium isethionate according to the teaching of U.S. Pat. No. 2,658,072; N-higher alkyl aspartic acids such as those produced according to the teaching of U.S. Pat. No. 2,438,091; and the products sold under the tradename “Miranol” and described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,528,378. Other examples of useful amphoterics include phosphates, such as coamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate (commercially available as Monaquat PTC, from Mona Corp.).

Zwitterionic surfactants suitable for use in the composition are well known in the art, and include those surfactants broadly described as derivatives of aliphatic quaternary ammonium, phosphonium, and sulfonium compounds, in which the aliphatic radicals can be straight or branched chain, and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms and one contains an anionic group such as carboxy, sulfonate, sulfate, phosphate or phosphonate. Zwitterionics such as betaines are preferred.

Examples of betaines include the higher alkyl betaines, such as coco dimethyl carboxymethyl betaine, lauryl dimethyl carboxymethyl betaine, lauryl dimethyl alphacarboxyethyl betaine, cetyl dimethyl carboxymethyl betaine, cetyl dimethyl betaine (available as Lonzaine 16SP from Lonza Corp.), lauryl bis-(2-hydroxyethyl) carboxymethyl betaine, stearyl bis-(2-hydroxypropyl) carboxymethyl betaine, oleyl dimethyl gamma-carboxypropyl betaine, lauryl bis-(2-hydroxypropyl)alpha-carboxyethyl betaine, coco dimethyl sulfopropyl betaine, stearyl dimethyl sulfopropyl betaine, lauryl dimethyl sulfoethyl betaine, lauryl bis-(2-hydroxyethyl) sulfopropyl betaine, and amidobetaines and amidosulfobetaines (wherein the RCONH(CH₂)₃ radical is attached to the nitrogen atom of the betaine), oleyl betaine (available as amphoteric Velvetex OLB-50 from Henkel), and cocamidopropyl betaine (available as Velvetex BK-35 and BA-35 from Henkel).

Other useful amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants include the sultaines and hydroxysultaines such as cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine (available as Mirataine CBS from Rhone-Poulenc), and the alkanoyl sarcosinates corresponding to the formula RCON(CH₃)CH₂CH₂CO₂M wherein R is alkyl or alkenyl of about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms, and M is a water-soluble cation such as ammonium, sodium, potassium and trialkanolamine (e.g., triethanolamine), a preferred example of which is sodium lauroyl sarcosinate.

c. Water Emollient

The preferred oil-in-water emulsion contains from about 25% to about 98%, preferably from about 65% to about 95%, more preferably from about 70% to about 90% water by weight of the topical carrier.

The hydrophobic phase is dispersed in the continuous aqueous phase. The hydrophobic phase may contain water insoluble or partially soluble materials such as are known in the art, including but not limited to the silicones described herein in reference to silicone-in-water emulsions, and other oils and lipids such as described above in reference to emulsions.

The topical compositions of the subject invention, including but not limited to lotions and creams, may contain a dermatologically acceptable emollient. Such compositions preferably contain from about 1% to about 50% of the emollient. As used herein, “emollient” refers to a material useful for the prevention or relief of dryness, as well as for the protection of the skin. A wide variety of suitable emollients is known and may be used herein. Sagarin, Cosmetics, Science and Technology, 2nd Edition, Vol. 1, pp. 32-43 (1972) contains numerous examples of materials suitable as an emollient. A preferred emollient is glycerin. Glycerin is preferably used in an amount of from about 0.001 to about 30%, more preferably from about 0.01 to about 20%, still more preferably from about 0.1 to about 10%, e.g., 5%.

Lotions and creams according to the present invention generally contain a solution carrier system and one or more emollients. Lotions and creams typically contain from about 1% to about 50%, preferably from about 1% to about 20%, of emollient; from about 50% to about 90%, preferably from about 60% to about 80%, water; the polypeptides according to the invention, and the additional skin care active (or actives) in the above described amounts. Creams are generally thicker than lotions due to higher levels of emollients or higher levels of thickeners.

Ointments of the present invention may contain a simple carrier base of animal or vegetable oils or semi-solid hydrocarbons (oleaginous); absorption ointment bases which absorb water to form emulsions; or water soluble carriers, e.g., a water soluble solution carrier. Ointments may further contain a thickening agent, such as described in Sagarin, Cosmetics, Science and Technology, 2nd Edition, Vol. 1, pp. 72-73 (1972), and/or an emollient. For example, an ointment may contain from about 2% to about 10% of an emollient; from about 0.1% to about 2% of a thickening agent; and the polypeptide and the additional skin care active (or actives) in the above described amounts.

Compositions of this invention useful for cleansing (“cleansers”) can be formulated with a suitable carrier, e.g., as described above, and preferably comprise from about 1% to about 90%, more preferably from about 5% to about 10%, of a dermatologically acceptable surfactant. The surfactant is suitably selected from anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric and ampholytic surfactants, as well as mixtures of these surfactants. Such surfactants are well known to those skilled in the detergency art. Nonlimiting examples of possible surfactants include isoceteth-20, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, sodium methyl oleoyl taurate, and sodium lauryl sulfate. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,197 for exemplary surfactants useful herein. Examples of a broad variety of additional surfactants useful herein are described in McCutcheon's Detergents and Emulsifiers, North American Edition (1986), published by Allured Publishing Corporation. The cleansing compositions can optionally contain, at their art-established levels, other materials which are conventionally used in cleansing compositions.

As used herein, the term “foundation” refers to a liquid, semi-liquid, semi-solid, or solid skin cosmetic which includes, but is not limited to lotions, creams, gels, pastes, cakes, and the like. Typically the foundation is used over a large area of the skin, such as over the face, to provide a particular look. Foundations are typically used to provide an adherent base for color cosmetics such as rouge, blusher, powder and the like, and tend to hide skin imperfections and impart a smooth, even appearance to the skin. Foundations of the present invention include a dermatologically acceptable carrier and may include conventional ingredients such as oils, colorants, pigments, emollients, fragrances, waxes, stabilizers, and the like. Exemplary carriers and such other ingredients which are suitable for use herein are described, for example, in WO96/33689, and GB 2274585.

B. Orally Acceptable Carrier

The compositions of the present invention can also comprise an orally acceptable carrier if they are to be ingested. Any suitable orally ingestible carrier or carrier form, as known in the art or otherwise, can be used. Non-limiting examples of oral personal care compositions can include, but are not limited to, tablets, pills, capsules, drinks, beverages, syrups, granules, powders, vitamins, supplements, health bars, candies, chews, and drops.

C. Injectible Liquid

The compositions of the present invention can also comprise a liquid that is acceptable for injection in and/or under the skin if the composition is to be injected. Any suitable acceptable liquid as known in the art or otherwise can be used.

III COMPOSITION PREPARATION

The compositions useful for the methods of the present invention are generally prepared by conventional methods such as are known in the art of making topical and oral compositions and compositions for injection. Such methods typically can involve mixing of the ingredients in one or more steps to a relatively uniform state, with or without heating, cooling, application of vacuum, and the like.

The physical form of the compositions according to the invention is not important: creams, lotions, ointments, milks, gels, emulsions, dispersions, solutions, suspensions, cleansers, foundations, anhydrous preparations (sticks, in particular lipsticks, body and bath oils), shower and bath gels, shampoos and scalp treatment lotions, cream or lotion for care of the skin or hair, sun-screen lotions, milks or creams, artificial suntan lotions, creams or milks, shaving creams or foams, aftershave lotions, make-up, mascaras or nail varnishes, lipsticks, skin “essences,” serums, adhesive or absorbent materials, transdermal patches, powders, emollient lotion, emollient milk, emollient cream, sprays, oils for the body and the bath, foundation tint bases, pomade, colloid, compact or solid suspension, pencil, sprayable formulation, brossable, rouge, blush, eyeliner, lipliner, lip gloss, facial or body powder, mousse, styling gels, nail conditioner, brush on formulation, lip balms, skin conditioners, cold creams, moisturizers, hair sprays, soaps, body scrubs, exfoliants, astringents, depilatories and permanent waving solutions, antidandruff formulations, anti-sweat and antiperspirant compositions, shaving, pre-shaving and after-shaving products, moisturizers, deodorants, cold creams, cleansers, skin gels, rinses, nose sprays and so on. These compositions can also be presented in the form of lipsticks intended to apply colour or to protect the lips from cracking, or of make-up products for the eyes or tints and tint bases for the face. Compositions in accordance with the invention include cosmetics, personal care products and pharmaceutical preparations. One can also consider a composition in the shape of foam or in the form of compositions for aerosol also including a propellant agent under pressure.

Cosmetic compositions may also be for orodental use, for example, toothpaste. In that case, the compositions may contain the usual adjuvants and additives for compositions for oral use and, in particular, surfactants, thickening agents, moisturizing agents, polishing agents such as silica, various active substances such as fluorides, particularly sodium fluoride, and, possibly, sweetening agents such as saccharin sodium.

Sarsasapogenin or extracts containing it, and the cosmetic and dermapharmaceutical compositions according to the present invention may be in the form of solution, dispersion, emulsion, paste, or powder. They may be included individually or as a premix in vehicles such as macro-, micro-, or nanocapsules, macro-, micro- or, nanospheres, liposomes, oleosomes or chylomicrons, macro-, micro-, or nanoparticles or macro-, micro or nanosponges, micro or nano emulsions. They may also be adsorbed on organic polymer powders, talcs, bentonites, or other inorganic or organic supports.

Sarsasapogenin or plant extracts containing it, and the cosmetic and dermopharmaceutical compositions according to the invention may be used in any form whatsoever, or in a form bound to or incorporated in or absorbed in or adsorbed on macro-, micro-, and nanoparticles, or macro-, micro-, and nanocapsules, for the treatment of textiles, natural or synthetic fibres, wools, and any materials that may be used for clothing or underwear for day or night intended to come into contact with the skin, such as tights, underclothes, handkerchiefs, or cloths, to exert their cosmetic effect via this skin/textile contact and to permit continuous topical delivery.

IV METHODS FOR TREATING KERATINOUS TISSUE CONDITION

The present invention relates to a cosmetic method to improve and/or to embellish any part of the body showing a deficit in lipids comprising the step of topically applying to skin or mucous membrane a cosmetic or dermopharmaceutical composition according to the invention comprising sarsasapogenin or a plant extract containing it.

More particularly, the invention relates to a cosmetic method to improve the figure, comprising the step of topically applying to the bust, and/or the low neckline, and/or the buttocks, and/or the face, and/or the lips, and/or the cheeks, and/or the eyelids, and/or the hands, a cosmetic or dermopharmaceutical composition comprising sarsasapogenin or a plant extract containing it, to favour the expansion and/or the formation of the subcutaneous adipose tissue, and/or to favour the lipid synthesis in the epidermis. Stimulating adipogenesis as well as lipogenesis and adipocytic differentiation, this method favours enlargments'swelling, increases the density of the adipose tissue and allows infine to rectify the subcutaneous adipose deficit and therefore to improve the general aesthetics of the body.

Moreover, the present invention relates also to a cosmetic method to obtain a tensor, tonic, strengthening effect, a plumping, padding and curving effect, to favour suppleness and cutaneous elasticity, to decrease the ptosis and to improve microcirculation.

One of the additional advantages of the present invention is that it can be used not only to treat an adipose tissue deficit already installed and a cutaneous slackening already observed, but also to stimulate the neoformation of the adipose tissue thanks to its adipogenic and lipogenic properties.

The composition according to the invention can be locally applied to the face and body's area to replump, and in particular to the hands, the buttocks, the thighs, the arms and the face.

One of the advantages of the present invention is the possibility of being available to proceed, each time it is necessary or desirable, to “soft” treatments very localized and selective thanks to the application way by topical route.

The present invention relates also to the use of sarsasapogenin or a plant extract containing it, to the manufacture of a medicine intended to improve and/or to embellish any part of the body showing a deficit in lipids, so as to stimulate lipogenesis, adipogenesis and adipocytic differentiation.

V EXAMPLES A. Formulation Examples 1. Plumper Face Gel

Products INCI % by wt Part A Water deionised qsp 100 Cetyl hydroxyethylcellulose Cetyl hydroxyethylcellulose 0.30 Part B Ultrez 10 Carbomer 0.40 Water dejonised 20.00 Part C Glycerin Glycerin 3.00 Panstat Ethyl & Methyl & Propyl parabens 0.30 Part D P1* Sarsasapogenin/hydrogenated 2.00 polyisobutene Marcol 82 Mineral oil 2.00 Crillet 1 Polysorbate 20 1.00 Crodamol AB C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate 2.00 Pemulen TR2 C 10-30 Alkyl Acrylate cross 0.30 polymer Part E Potassium Sorbate Potassium Sorbate 0.10 Part F Water deionised 5.00 NaOH 10N Sodium Hydroxyde 0.50 P1*: is a solution comprising between 1 ppm and 10000 ppm of sarsasapogenin dissolved in a medium constituted of synthetic oil (hydrogenated polyisobutene). This preparation P1 is one of the prefered forms of the invention. The quantity of such preparation in a cosmetic composition can vary on a large range, and will be preferably from about 1% to 20% by wt, by weight of the cosmetic composition. The preparation P1 will be the plumper active ingredient of certains following examples. Method: Disperse Part A under impeller stirring. Sprinide Ultrez 10 in the water and allow to swell for 15 minutes. Heat Part C until dissolution is complete. Mix Part A with Part B. Run Part (B + A) into Part C under impeller stirring. Run Part D into Part (A + B + C). Run in Part E. Neutralize with Part F.

2. <<Lipofilling >> Hands Gel

Products INCI % by wt Part A Water dejonised qsp 100% Cetyl hydroxyethylcellulose Cetyl hydroxyethylcellulose 0.30 Part B Ultrez 10 Carbomer 0.20 Water deionised 20.00 Part C Glycerin Glycerin 3.00 Panstat Ethyl & Methyl & Propyl 0.30 parabens Part D P1 Sarsasapogenin, hydrogenated 3.00 polyisobutene Marcol 82 Mineral oil 4.00 Crillet 1 Polysorbate 20 1.00 Pemulen TR2 C 10-30 Alkyl Acrylate cross 0.30 polymer Part E Potassium Sorbate Potasium Sorbate 0.10 Part F NaOH 30% Sodium hydroxyde 0.50 Water deionised 5.00 Part G Rigin ® Palmitoyl tetrapeptide 3 3.00 Rigin ® is a product sold by SEDERMA (FR2788777 and WO 00/433417) improving elasticity and firmness of skin, strengthening hydration and smoothing the skin. Method: Disperse Part A under impeller stirring. Sprinkle Ultrez 10 in the water and allow to swell for 15 minutes. Heat Part C until dissolution is complete. Mix Part A with Part B. Run Part (B + A) into Part C under impeller stirring. Run Part D into Part (A + B + C). Run in Part E. Neutralize with Part F. Run in Part G and mix thoroughly.

3. Face Cream

Products INCI % by wt Part A Water deionised qsp 100% Ultrez 10 Carbomer 0.40 Part B Glycerin Glycerin 3.00 Panstat Ethyl & Methyl & Propyl parabens 0.30 Part C Crill 3 Sorbitan Stearate 2.00 Crodamol ICS Isocetyl stearate 4.00 Cithrol GMS AS Glyceryl stearate & PEG 100 stearate 3.00 Part D P1 Sarsasapogenin, hydrogenated polyisobutene 5.00 Part E Sorbate Potassium sorbate 0.10 Part F NaOH 30% Sodium hydroxyde 0.40 Water deionised 4.00 Part G Kombucha ® Saccharomyces/Xylinum Black Tea Ferment, 3.00 Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose Sterocare ® Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower Extract, 2.00 Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Lecithin Part H Parfum Fragrance 0.10 Sterocare ® is an acive ingredient against aging sold by SEDERMA (WO 99/18927) particularly recommended for mature skin. Method: Weight Part A and let it swell for 30 minutes. Heat Part A to 75° C. in a water-bath. Heat Part B until dissolution. Add Part B into Part A. Heat Part C to 75° C. in a water-bath. Under stirring, pour Part C into Part (A + B). Extemporaneously, add Part D. Add Part E, homogenize. Neutralize with Part F at around 55° C. Then add Part G and part H, homogenize.

4. Buttock Cream

Products INCI % by wt Part A Water deionised qsp 100% Ultrez 10 Carbomer 0.40 Part B Glycerin Glycerin 3.00 Panstat Ethyl & Methyl & Propyl parabens 0.30 Part C Crill 3 Sorbitan Stearate 2.00 DC 345 Cyclohexasiloxane 2.00 Huile de RICIN Castor oil 2.00 Cithrol GMS AS Glyceryl stearate & PEG 100 stearate 3.00 Part D P1 Sarsasapogenin, hydrogenated polyisobutene 10.00 Part E Sorbate Potassium sorbate 0.10 Part F NaOH 30% Sodium hydroxyde 0.40 Water deionised 4.00 Part G Parfum Fragrance 0.10 Method: Weight Part A and let it swell for 30 minutes. Heat Part A in a water-bath. Heat Part B until dissolution. Add Part B to Part A. Heat Part C to 75° C. in a water-bath. Under stirring, pour Part C into Part (A + B). Extemporaneously, add Part D. Add Part F, homogenize. Neutralize with Part E at around 55° C., homogenize. Then add Part F and part G, homogenize.

5. Toning Bust Cream

Products INCI % by wt Part A Water deionised qsp 100% Ultrez 10 Carbomer 0.40 Part B Glycerin Glycerin 3.00 Panstat Ethyl & Methyl & Propyl parabens 0.30 Part C Crill 3 Sorbitan Stearate 2.00 Marcol 82 Mineral oil 4.00 Cromollient DP3A PPG 3 Myristyl Ether Adipate 1.00 Cithrol GMS AS Glyceryl stearate & PEG 100 stearate 3.00 Part D P1 Sarsasapogenin, hydrogenated 4.00 polyisobutene Part E Potassium Sorbate Potassium Sorbate 0.10 Part F NaOH 30% Sodium hydroxide 0.40 Water deionised 4.00 Part G Bio-bustyl ® Rahnella Soy Protein Ferment, Palmitoyl 3.00 Oligopeptide Part H Parfum Fragrance 0.10 Bio-bustyl ® is a product sold by SEDERMA (FR 2668365) stimulating cellular metabolism and allowing to tonify the skin, particularly used in products intended to be apply on the bust of the women. Method: Weight Part A and let it swell for 30 minutes. Heat Part A to 75° C. in a water-bath. Heat Part B until dissolution. Add Part B into Part A. Heat Part C to 75° C. in a water-bath. Under stirring, pour Part C into Part (A + B). Extemporaneously, add Part D. Add Part F, homogenize. Neutralize with Part E at around 55° C., homogenize. Then add Part F, Part G and Part H, homogenize.

6. Toning Bust Night Cream

Products INCI % by wt Part A Water deionised qsp 100% Ultrez 10 Carbomer 0.40 Part B Glycerin Glycerin 3.00 Panstat Ethyl & Methyl & Propyl parabens 0.30 Part C Crill 3 Sorbitan Stearate 2.00 Crodamol ICS Isocetyl stearate 4.00 Cithrol GMS AS Glyceryl stearate & PEG 100 stearate 3.00 Part D Anemarrhena Anemarrhena asphodeloides extract 5.00 asphodeloides extract Part E Sorbate Potassium sorbate 0.10 Part F NaOH 30% Sodium hydroxyde 0.40 Water deionised 4.00 Part G Chronodyn ® Euglena Gracilis extract 3.00 Part H Perfume Fragrance 0.10 Chronodyn ® is a product sold by SEDERMA paricularly used to stimulate cellular metabolism. Method: Weight Part A and let it swell for 30 minutes. Heat Part A to 75° C. in a water-bath. Heat Part B until dissolution. Add Part B to Part A. Heat Part C to 75° C. in a water-bath. Under stirring, pour Part C into Part (A + B). Extemporaneously, add Part D. Add Part E, homogenize. Neutralize with Part F at around 55° C., homogenize. Then add Part G, and Part H, homogenize.

7. Plumper Body Oil

Products INCI % by wt Part A Mineral Oil Mineral Oil qsp 100% Crodamol OS Ethylhexyl Stearate 20.00 Acetate de tocopherol Tocopherol Acetate 0.20 Part B Sarsasapogenin Sarsasapogenin 0.05 Part C Parfum fragrance 0.10 Method: Weight Part A and mix under stirring. Add Part B to Part A under stirring. Homogenize. Then add Part C.

8. Toning Body Milk

Products INCI % by wt Part A Glycerin Glycerin 10.00 Water deionised Part B Parabens Mixed Parabens 0.20 Crodacol CS 90 Cetearyl Alcohol 0.20 Cithrol GMS AS Glyceryl Stearate & PEG 100 Stearate 3.50 Mineral Oil 9.00 Stearic Acid Stearic Acid 1.00 Part C Sorbate Potassium sorbate 0.10 Part D P1 Sarsasapogenin, hydrogenated polyisobutene 1.00 Part E Bio-peptide EL ® Glyceryl polymethacrylate, PEG8, palmitoyl 2.00 oligopeptide Part F Parfum fragrance 0.10 Bio-peptide EL ® is a tonic and strenghtening product sold by SEDERMA (FR2668365). Method: Part A: Weight and heat to 75° C. Mix Part B and heat to 75° C. Add Part B into Part A by mixing. Add Part D extemporaneously and homogenize. Add Part E. Add Part C then homogenize. Add Part F at around 35° C.

9. Eyeshadow

Products INCI % by wt Part A Lipexel ® Ethylexyl Palmitate and 4.00 Luffa Cylindrica seed oil Sarsasapogenin 0.05 Part B Hydrated Silica 2.50 Kaolin 2.50 Z Cote Zinc oxide 0.60 Black W9829 0.05 DC Red 7 W 023 0.02 Red W3801 0.30 Yellow W 1802 0.25 Potassium sorbate 0.10 Mixed parabens 0.20 Part C Fragrance 0.20 Lipexel ® is a product sold by SEDERMA (WO 03/017966) preventing skin's dehydration. Method: Weight and mix Parts A and B in a blender. Add slowly Part C into Part (A + B) by mixing. Homogenize.

10. Plumper Lip Gloss

Products INCI % by wt Part A Preservative 0.80 Sarsasapogenin 0.10 Mineral Oil qs 100 Syncrowax ERLC C18-36 Acid Glycol Ester 4.00 Syncrowax HGLC C18-36 Acid Triglyceride 16.00 Crodacol C 90 Cetyl Alcohol 2.00 Novol Oleyl Alcohol 15.00 Shea Butter Butyrospermum Parkii 1.50 Part B Brown Covapate 0.20 Orange Covapate 0.40 White Covapate 1.30 Pink Covapate 1.50 Crodamol PTIS Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate 10.00 Part C Fragance 0.10 Part D MAXI LIP ® Ethylhexyl Palmitate (and) Tribehenin 1.00 (and) Sorbitan Isostearate (and) Palmitoyl Oligopeptide Maxilip ® is a product sold by SEDERMA (WO 99/16029) stimulating collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis. Method: Weight Part A and mix it at around 90° C. Mix Part B and incorporate it into Part A. Add Part C extemporaneously. Mix Part D and add it into Part A + B + C. homogenize then pour into moulds. Cool down to room temperature.

B In Vitro Studies: 1. Effect of Sarsasapogenin on Gene Expression Profile

Two studies were conducted: one addressed the effect of sarsasapogenin on differentiation using a pre-adipocyte culture; the other addressed the effect of sarsasapogenin on mature adipocytes.

Human pre-adipocyte cells were inoculated and cultured (multiplication) for 5 days. Then:

-   -   either the cells were exposed to the induction medium in the         presence or absence of sarsasapogenin for 8 or 24 h before         culture arrest (study of the effect of sarsasapogenin on         differentiation),     -   or the cells were exposed to the differentiation medium for 10         days, yielding mature adipocytes, then exposed or not exposed to         sarsasapogenin for 24 h (study of the effect of sarsasapogenin         on maturation).

At each time point, the mRNA of the cells was extracted using a commercially available kit (Roche Kit V6—Extraction of total RNA). In parallel, solvent controls were run and subjected to extraction in the same manner. The expression profile of the gene sequences was determined using CodeLink Whole Genome chips for each sample of RNA purified. The values obtained were normalized on the controls.

On the basis of the results obtained, sarsasapogenin is reported to stimulate adipocytic differentiation by various mechanisms:

Sarsasapogenin induces activation of the gene coding for protein MNT after 8 and 24 h of differentiation (MAX binding protein). However, protein MNT in association with Max represses the activation induced by Myc-Max. The latter is known to inhibit adipocytic differentiation. The inhibitory effect on the inhibitor is reported to activate differentiation.

In addition, sarsasapogenin acts upstream of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) activation and potentiates the function of that receptor. Various genes associated with activation of PPARγ were observed to be markedly up-regulated: for example, genes COPS3 and COPS5 (>5) coding for the complex known as “COP9 signalosome” and cyclin D3, which, in association with CDK4, orients differentiation at the expense of proliferation and affords conditions propitious to phosphorylation of PPARγ. Phosphorylated PPARγ forms a heterodimer with retinoid X receptor (RXR) which binds to the PPRE transcription response sequence and induces differentiation into adipocytes.

Sarsasapogenin also induces other genes involved in the activation of differentiation. Thus, an increase in KLK10 (>10) (or kallikrein: a member of the serine protease series required for adipose conversion and differentiation) and the gene coding for Kruppel-like factor 5 (KLF5), which acts in concert with C/EBP β/δ to activate the expression of PPARγ2 have been observed.

The study also showed that the activated status of gene p21 was maintained in the mature adipocytes although the activity of that gene normally decreases when cells begin differentiating. The differentiation that occurs is thus potentiated and maintained over a long period: that situation amplifies the lipid accumulation pathways. This finding is illustrated by several proteins involved in the formation of transport vesicles (for glucose, fructose, sterols):

-   -   Adipose differentiation-related protein (ADRP) or adipophilin is         very significantly induced (>4) by sarsasapogenin. ADRP is         involved in the formation of lipid droplets and the formation of         long chains of fatty acids. The latter are known to stimulate         the gene coding for pentraxin-related gene (PTX3) transiently         expressed during adipogenesis. It has been suggested that after         NPTXR binds to its receptor, it is strongly induced (>7) by         sarsasapogenin at time point 24 h and could contribute to the         uptake of lipid molecules.     -   The results also show that SLC2A5/GLUT5 (solute carrier family         2-facilitated glucose/fructose transporter—member 5), the main         transporter of fructose in adipocytes, and gene RAFTLIN, which         codes for a protein involved in glucose transport, are activated         by sarsasapogenin at time points 8 and 24 h of differentiation.

In addition to the activated genes linked to differentiation and formation of lipids, which remain preponderant, other genes also coexist and contribute to proliferation (FEN1, TCN1, HMGA1 and HSPA9B) and the installation of new adipose tissue on the matrix (PCOLCE2 LOX and ECM2).

Overall, the set of results paint the picture of a product that activates adipocyte differentiation, stimulates lipid uptake by activation of the glucose/fructose pathway, promotes the formation of lipid vesicles via adipophilin and strengthens the installation of fat in the extracellular matrix.

2. Stimulation of Proliferation of Adipocytes

The pre-adipocytes undergo a multiplication phase (clonal expansion) before beginning to differentiate. During the differentiation phase, the cells do not divide but increase in size and take up lipids.

A product stimulating proliferation would thus enable adipocytes that have already entered the differentiation phase to maintain a replication capability.

Protocol: 3T3-L1 cells were inoculated and cultured to confluence over 4 days (clonal expansion). The conventional differentiation cocktail was added to the culture and the cells were incubated in the absence (control) or in the presence of rising concentrations of sarsasapogenin for 3 days. Following incubation, the cell layers were harvested and subjected to a Hoechst test to quantify cell proliferation vs. the proliferation of the control cells and the cells incubated in the presence of pioglitazone (positive control).

TABLE 1 Residual proliferation capability during the differentiation phase Proliferation vs. Control Concentration (Significance) Sarsasapogenin 5 μM +20.5% (p < 0.01) Sarsasapogenin 10 μM +31.6% (p < 0.01) Sarsasapogenin 20 μM +35.2% (p < 0.01) Pioglytazone (positive control) 10 μM   +49% (p < 0.01)

The results obtained with the positive control validate the test. The test showed that in the presence of sarsasapogenin, the cells in the differentiation phase retained a moderate replicative capability. The latter was significantly different from that of the controls. The dose-dependent effect was not very marked over the concentration range investigated.

3. Stimulation of Differentiation

Principle: after an in vivo proliferation phase, the pre-adipocytes begin differentiating under the influence of specific endogenous factors (in particular, glucocorticoids and insulin). In vitro, those factors are included in the conventional cocktail used to trigger differentiation.

The maintenance or amplification of differentiation when the cells are subsequently cultured in a simple maintenance medium is determined by assay of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, G3PDH (or GPDH). The enzyme is involved in energy metabolism. Its activity regularly increases through the differentiation process.

Protocol: as previously, 3T3-L1 cells were cultured to confluence, then underwent differentiation induction with the conventional cocktail and were incubated in the absence or presence of sarsasapogenin at various concentrations. After 3 days of incubation, the differentiation cocktail was replaced by culture maintenance medium in the presence or absence of sarsasapogenin. After 3 days of incubation, the cell layers were harvested and G3PDH activity determined.

TABLE 2 Percentage change in G3PDH activity expressed relative to the control cells not treated with sarsasapogenin. Mean for n = 3 tests Change in G3PDH activity vs. control (%) Concentration (Significance vs. control) Sarsasapogenin 5 μM +103% (p < 0.01) Sarsasapogenin 10 μM +201% (p < 0.01) Sarsasapogenin 15 μM +429% (p < 0.01) Sarsasapogenin 17.5 μM +535% (p < 0.01) Positive control: pioglitazone 10 μM +521% (p < 0.01)

The assay was validated by comparison with the positive control, pioglitazone, with which a 521% increase in differentiation stimulation was observed.

Dose-dependent stimulation was obtained in the presence of sarsasapogenin.

4. Stimulation of Lipid Uptake by 3T3-L1 Cells and Human Adipocytes

Principle: adipocyte differentiation is a decisive stage in the transformation of pre-adipocytes into lipid-laden mature adipocytes. The intracellular accumulation of lipids is determined by conventional red oil staining (neutral lipid marker). The stained lipids can then be quantified under the microscope.

Protocol: 3T3-L1 cells were inoculated and cultured for 4 days (multiplication). This was followed by a differentiation phase (incubation with the conventional differentiation cocktail) and a maturation phase (maturation cocktail) in the absence or presence of sarsasapogenin at various concentrations.

At the end of that period, the cells were washed, fixed and stained with red oil. The cell layers were digitally photographed and the red staining quantified by image analysis.

The percentage red oil areas, shown in table 1, were expressed relative to the untreated control cells and the test was validated by comparison with pioglitazone (10 μM), the positive control for differentiation stimulation.

TABLE 3 Change in the quantity of lipids accumulated in 3T3-L1 cells in the presence of sarsasapogenin. Mean values for n = 3 tests % change in red oil Concentration content vs. control Sarsasapogenin 5 μM +135% Sarsasapogenin 10 μM +274% Sarsasapogenin 17.5 μM +492% Pioglitazone (positive control) 10 μM +359%

The cells incubated in the presence of sarsasapogenin showed an increase in dose-dependent lipid incorporation that was greater than 492% vs. the control cells, for a sarsasapogenin concentration of 17.5 μM.

The results were reproduced using human adipocytes.

5. Volume Effect on Adipocytes Evidenced by Three-Dimensional Imaging

In order to image the volume-increasing effect on adipocytes due to lipid take-up, we used confocal microscopy to approximate the adipocyte volume.

3T3-L1 cells on fibronectin-coated glass slides were photographed. The cells were conventionally cultured in the absence or presence of sarsasapogenin at various concentrations for 9 days (after 3 days of differentiation).

Triple staining evidenced the lipids (red, red oil), cell nuclei (blue, HOECHST stain) and cytosol (green, BODIPY stain).

The images were acquired by optical slices every 600 nm in order to reconstitute the total volume of the adipocyte. The adipocyte volumes were calculated from the data thus generated. The results were as follows:

TABLE 4 Mean cell volume after adipocyte culturing in the presence or absence of sarsasapogenin. Concentration Adipocytes volume Sarsasapogenin 5 μM  41 10³ μM Sarsasapogenin 10 μM 155 10³ μM Sarsasapogenin 15 μM 255 10³ μM Positive control: pioglitazone 10 μM 136 10³ μM

Those effects result in a volume-enhancing effect on adipose tissue, which was demonstrated by confocal microscopy.

C In Vivo Studies:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a special equipment in order to ensure the most precise repositioning possible by FOISTS method.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the FOITS analyses.

FIG. 3 shows the parameters: Ue and Uv.

Principle: the volume study was conducted using interference-fringe topometry consisting in analysis of the optical deformation of the fringes projected on the skin surface under laser illumination (FOITS method).

Protocol: for this study in order to ensure the most precise repositioning possible, it was necessary to develop special equipment consisting in (the system is shown in FIG. 1):

-   -   a horizontal breast support system (identical to that used for         breast radiography) the height of which was precisely determined         relative to the seat,     -   a back-rest system situated at a constant distance from the         breast-rest.

Superimposition of the FOITS acquisitions, start vs. end of study, enables the change in volume to be imaged.

Study type: single-blind controlled study, treated breast vs. untreated breast. The treated breast was the left or right breast (randomization of the study population).

Number of subjects: 32 subjects included. 30 completed the study. Only 28 cases were evaluable at time point 56 days.

Special study criteria: women aged 18 to 35 years. Small breast volume, cup size 80-85B or 90A. Regular hormonal status or status stabilized by oral contraceptives. No pregnancy or breast-feeding during the study. Body weight stable for at least 3 months.

Product application: the product was a cream gel containing 5% sarsasapogenin, which was applied twice daily for 56 days.

Results:

Safety: the product was well tolerated by all the volunteers.

Volume by FOITS

Out of the 32 volunteers included in the study, only the data for n=30 subjects at time point 28 days and n=28 subjects at time point 56 days were evaluable.

The breast volume determined by FOITS was that of the superior part of the breast (décolleté zone), the lower part being excluded by the positioning system.

In order to facilitate result reading, the volumes at T0 were normalized on a reference value of 5,000 mm³. Depending on breast size, the raw data ranged from 4,000 to 10,000 mm³.

The raw datum determined on T28 or 56 thus became 5,000+the absolute value of the difference vs. T0.

TABLE 5 Change in volume of the superior part of the breast following application of 5% sarsasapogenin for 56 days Treated side Volume Untreated side Vol. (mm³) (mm³) T0 5000 5000 T28 days 5070 4997 Significance p = 0.3 p = 0.95 T56 days 5108 5046 Significance p = 0.10 p = 0.52 Best responders at T56 5330 4900 (8 subjects = 1st quartile)

For the control breast, the change in volume was practically null after 28 days and the very slight variation observed at 56 days was of very little significance (p=0.52).

For the treated breast, an increase, although not very significant, was observed at T28 (p=0.3). The increase was confirmed at T56 days with 90% certainty (p=0.1).

TABLE 6 Percentage change in breast volume after 5% sarsasapogenin application for 56 days. Mean values for n = 28 subjects and for the best responders (n = 8). Treated side Untreated side Change at T28 days 1.4% −0.1% Change at T56 days 2.2% 0.9% Best responders at T28 6.6% −6.4% Best responders at T56 8.4% −2.0%

For the entire population, i.e. 28 subjects, an increase in breast volume was observed for the sarsasapogenin-treated breast and that increase became more marked over time: 1.4 to 2.2%. As indicated above, the increase at T56 was 90% certain (p=0.1).

Conclusion:

While the increase in breast volume was moderate: on average 2.2% at time point 56 days for the 28 subjects, they were nonetheless significant at the p=0.1 level.

This trend toward an increase, which became more marked over time, is a second indication that concords with the results obtained and suggests that the long-term results may be even better. (FIG. 2 shows an example of the FOITS analyses).

Cutometry

Principle: foreword: cutometry is not usually used to characterize lipogenesis since the method was developed to investigate the contribution of supporting fibers (collagen, elastin) to the viscoelastic characteristics of the skin.

However, cutometric data were used to verify that the increase in adiposity did not affect the intrinsic mechanical parameters. (See FIG. 3).

TABLE 7 Change in the cutometric parameters relating to deep viscoelasticity. Results after 28 and 56 days of 5% sarsasapogenin application. Mean values for n = 28 subjects. Uv Ur T28 days −0.15% +2.1% T56 days  −2.3% +2.4% Significance at T56 NS NS

The stability of parameters Uv and Ur over time shows the absence of an effect on the elasticity parameters. Uv, elasticity, related to deep viscoelasticity, did not change. Ur, the intrinsic elastic recoil of the skin after stretching, did not change either.

The cutometric parameters selected to characterize the effect of sarsasapogenin show no change in the elasticity or viscoelasticity of the deeper planes. 

1. A method for improving any part of the body showing a deficit in lipids in skin comprising applying to the skin a topical composition comprising sarsasapogenin in an amount effective to improve the deficit in lipids.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is applied in an amount effective to favour the expansion of subcutaneous adipose tissue.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is applied in an amount effective to stimulate lipogenesis.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is applied in an amount effective to stimulate adipogenesis.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is applied in an amount effective to stimulate adipocytic differentiation.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is applied in an amount effective to stimulate the formation of adipose tissue in order to decrease the ptosis.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is applied as an agent selected from the group consisting of a tensor, a tonic, and a strengthening agent.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is applied as an agent selected from the group consisting of a plumper, a padding agent, and a curving agent.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is applied as an agent favouring cutaneous elasticity.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is applied as an agent for improving microcirculation.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the sarsasapogenin is present in an amount from about 0.000001% w/w to about 20% w/w of the composition.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the sarsasapogenin is produced by chemical synthesis, enzymatic synthesis, or by plant extraction.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the sarsasapogenin is extracted from a plant selected from the group consisting of Agave sisalana, Agave americana, Asparagus, A. officinalis, A. adscende, A. racemosus, Radix Asparagi, Tian-Dong, A. cochichinensis (lour.) Merr., A. cochichinensis (lour.) Merr. Var. gaudichaudianus, A. taliensis, A. munitus, A. myriacanthus, A. meioclados Levl, A. trichoclados, A. filicinus, Yucca, Yucca spp, Y. filifera, Y. filamentosa, Y. baccata, Y. brevifolia Y. schidigera, Shatavari, Smilax, Sarsaparilla, Salsepareille, Sarsaparriha, khao yen, Saparna, jupicanga, smilace, China root, Smilax Aristolochiaefolia, Smilax ornata, Trigonella foenum graecum, fenugrec, Diascorées, Dioscorea colettii, Lilium brownii, Quillaja saponaria, Solanum paniculatum, Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium, Tribulus terrestris, Nicotianum tabacum, Radix sarsaparilla, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, Anemarrhena asphodeloides bunge, and zhi mu.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the sarsasapogenin is extracted from Anemarrhena asphodeloides bunge.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises at least one complementary active selected from the group consisting of an active ingredient stimulating lipogenesis, an active ingredient stimulating adipogenesis, a strengthening active ingredient, an active ingredient acting on skin's tonicity, an active ingredient having curving effects, a vasodilatator active ingredient, and an active ingredient favouring microcirculation.
 16. (canceled)
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is in cosmetic form selected from the group consisting of a cream, lotion, ointment, milk, gel, emulsion, dispersion, solution, suspension, cleanser, foundation, anhydrous preparation, lipstick, body oil, bath oils, shower gel, bath gel, shampoo, scalp treatment lotion, sun-screen lotion, artificial suntan lotion, shaving cream, shaving foam, aftershave lotion, make-up, mascara, nail varnish, skin “essence,” serum, adhesive material, absorbent material, transdermal patch, and a powder.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is applied to the skin in an area selected from the group consisting of the bust, the low neckline, the buttocks, the face, the lips, the cheeks, the eyelids, and the hands.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is applied to the skin in an area selected from the group consisting of the bust, the low neckline, the buttocks, the face, the lips, the cheeks, the eyelids, and the hands. 20-22. (canceled)
 23. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is applied in an amount effective to favour the formation of subcutaneous adipose tissue.
 24. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is applied in an amount effective to favour lipid synthesis in the epidermis.
 25. The method of claim 11, wherein the sarsasapogenin is present in an amount from about 0.00001% w/w to 1% w/w of the composition.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the sarsasapogenin is present in an amount from about 0.0001% to 0.1% w/w of the composition.
 27. The method of claim 15, wherein the complementary active is selected from the group consisting of hops extracts, kigelia africana, sage, soya, sabal serrulata, damiana, de dong quai, dandelion, cumin, liquorice, cnicus benedictus, red elm, raspberry bush, lupin, fennel, pepper, malt, mourere, Kombucha, clover, and alchemille.
 28. A topical formulation for improving any part of the body showing a deficit in lipids in skin comprising applying to the skin a topical composition comprising a dermatologically acceptable carrier and sarsasapogenin in an amount from about 0.000001% w/w to about 20% w/w of the composition, wherein the composition is in a cosmetic form selected from the group consisting of a cream, lotion, ointment, milk, gel, emulsion, dispersion, solution, suspension, cleanser, foundation, anhydrous preparation, lipstick, body oil, bath oil, shower gel, bath gel, shampoo, scalp treatment lotion, sun-screen lotion, artificial suntan lotion, shaving cream, shaving foam, aftershave lotion, make-up, mascara, nail varnish, skin “essence”, serum, adhesive material, absorbent material, transdermal patch, and a powder. 